LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 01: A detail of the Pac-12 midfield logo prior to the Pac-12 Championship game between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies at Allegiant Stadium on December 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With Week 0 of the college football season complete, Week 1 kicks off Thursday, with the first Pac-12 team playing Friday. With the new-look Pac-12 entering its first season as an eight-team conference, there are plenty of questions surrounding how the league will stack up in its first year.

Boise State enters the season as the early favorite, but several teams have a legitimate chance to compete for the conference title. With the season finally here, here are my initial Pac-12 power rankings heading into Week 1.

1. Boise State

Until proven otherwise, Boise State should be the favorite to win the Pac-12 title. The Broncos are coming off three straight Mountain West Conference championships and are widely believed to be the most talented team in the Pac-12.

Boise State opens the season against Oregon and Memphis, and going 1-1 will be crucial for Boise State to keep their CFP dreams alive early in the season. I will be watching how Maddux Madsen looks early in the season because Boise State will need him to be more than a game manager if they want to win the Pac-12.

2. SDSU

San Diego State comes in at No. 2 in the initial Pac-12 power rankings. The Aztecs are coming off a 9-4 season under second-year head coach Sean Lewis and appear to have one of the more complete rosters in the conference. After going 3-9 in Lewis’ first season, San Diego State made a major jump in 2025 and enters the Pac-12 with a legitimate chance to win a Pac-12 title.

The Aztecs travel to UCLA and Toledo while hosting Portland State and James Madison. If SDSU can find a way to enter Pac-12 play 4-0, not only would they be potential favorites to win the Pac-12, they would also have a real chance to make the College Football Playoff.

3. WSU

WSU comes in at third in the initial Pac-12 power rankings. The Cougars have a lot of unknowns and have a first-year head coach in Kirby Moore. WSU brings in 12 power 4 transfers, showing that there should be plenty of talent to compete for a Pac-12 championship in year one of the Kirby Moore era.

The Cougs have arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the Pac-12, facing Washington and Kansas State on the road and hosting Arizona at home. Even if WSU struggles out of the gates, they could be the most battle-tested team in the Pac-12 come conference play.

4. Fresno State

The Bulldogs are coming off of a successful 9-4 2025 campaign and should view themselves as legitimate Pac-12 contenders heading into the third year of the Matt Entz era in Fresno. The Bulldogs should have one of the scariest defenses in the conference even as questions remain about the offense.

Fresno State opens the season with a tough road game against USC, but the non-conference slate lightens up with the following three games against Sac State, San Jose State and Rice. Fresno has as tough of a start to Pac-12 play as you can imagine, with their first three games being against WSU, Boise State and SDSU.

5. Utah State

Bronco Mendenhall enters his second season with the Aggies, coming off of a 6-7 season in his first year at the helm. Utah State beat Fresno State and lost to Boise State by just one point last season, showing that Utah State could be a sneaky dark horse contender this season.

Utah State will play UW and Utah in two of its four non-conference games, giving the Aggies two chances for big statement wins. The Aggies will go on the road to Boise State and SDSU this year. If Utah State can split those games, they may have a real chance to make the Pac-12 championship game.

6. Texas State

Texas State could have the best offense in the Pac-12 by a wide margin. Returning starter Brad Jackson is widely regarded as one of the best QBs in the Pac-12. The major questions for Texas State come on the defensive side of the ball, which cost them quite a few games last season.

Depending on how much the Texas State defense is able to improve will determine if Texas State is a sleeper team to win the Pac-12 title or if they finish near the bottom of the Pac-12. The Bobcats are also making the biggest jump of any team in the conference coming from the Sun Belt Conference into the Pac-12.

7. Colorado State

The Rams went out and hired Jim Mora after a less than successful 2-10 finish in the 2025 season. Mora comes to Fort Collins after a successful run at UCONN. Questions remain about what level of QB production Mora can get in year one with the Rams as well as questions about how the roster will come together.

It is hard to see a path for Colorado State winning the Pac-12 this season, but depending on how quickly the team can gel, they could sneak up on some teams and even steal some wins against the upper half of the conference.

8. Oregon State

JaMarcus Shepard takes over in Corvallis after a disappointing 2-10 2025 campaign. Oregon State is a hard team to project heading into the 2026 season with a new coaching staff and quite a bit of roster turnover. The start of the season will have two major tests for the Beavers as they open the season with games against Houston and Texas Tech.

Oregon State opens Pac-12 play with an away game at Colorado State and then back-to-back home games against SDSU and WSU. Going at least 2-1 in this stretch will be crucial if Oregon State wants to make a run at making the Pac-12 championship game.

Source: Yahoo Sports