Breaking down the toughest three-week stretch for every Pac-12 team in 2023

With college football over 100 days away and the transfer portal calming down, fans have themselves twiddling their thumbs and anxiously awaiting fall camp.

In order to pass the time it would be understandable for fans of college football programs everywhere to take a look at their favorite team's schedule and do the ole "win or loss" exercise. Depending on the rationality of some fans there are either 25+ undefeated seasons out there or some extremely pessimistic fans who are just hoping to find the silver lining.

When taking a look at the Pac-12 as a whole it is evident that every game will matter, and yes I am aware that sounds cliche but there are at least five teams battling for two conference title spots. Not to mention, all five of those teams think they have a legitimate chance at winning the conference and crashing the playoff.

We have learned over time that the Pac-12 doesn't get the benefit of the doubt in the eyes of the committee, so in order for a team to reach their goal they need to have a perfect season. For other programs like a Stanford, Cal, Washington State, and even Arizona who would be pleased with a bowl game they also need things to go their way.

That is why I broke down the toughest three weeks schedule for every Pac-12 team regardless of their postseason aspirations. Whether it is multiple tough road games, rivalry games, or even just three really good teams there is a stretch on everyone's schedule that likely has fans worried.

Let's take a look at what those are!

Colorado

Toughest Stretch: Weeks 1-3

Opponents: @TCU, Nebraska, Colorado State

The Deion Sanders era stuff starts off with a couple extremely difficult matchups. The Buffs open 2023 in what will be a hostile environment at TCU, who is fresh off a National Championship appearance. The Horned Frogs are hoping to pick up where they left off, and with all of the new faces in Boulder a home game would have been nice. They get that first home game the following week, however it does come against one of their oldest rivals in Nebraska. The two programs have been going at it all offseason, and Nebraska is also looking to turn things around and end their losing streak against the Buffs. Depending on how the Nebraska game goes, Colorado State is next on the schedule and they are the definition of a trap game. Worst case scenario the Buffs open up 0-3, best case scenario they are 3-0.

Stanford

Toughest Stretch: Week 8-10

Opponents: Washington, @Washington State, @Oregon State

The Cardinal have one of the most inexperienced teams in the country and also have to play one of the tougher schedules. While many people expect them to struggle there is a chance that they can steal a win or two, but when it comes to this three week stretch it will be tough. Week 8 they host Washington who returns all of their key ingredients from the most prolific offense in the country from a year ago against a secondary that returns zero starters. They then get to travel to Pullman and Corvallis in the ensuing weeks, which could be snow games or at the very least have hard weather conditions. Washington State is trying to prove they belong with the top schools, and Oregon State has playoff aspirations.

Cal

Toughest Stretch: Week 7-9

Opponents: @Utah, USC, @Oregon

Cal is a team that has bowl game aspirations, and while the front end of their schedule is more friendly their Week's 7-9 could kill any momentum they have. They play three of the four best teams in the conference in a row, and if you take it a step further and go back one week to Week 6 they play four of the top five teams. The Golden Bears have to travel to Utah which is arguably one of the toughest venues in the country, host a USC team who has a legitimate case to be a playoff team, and then conclude that stretch with a trip up to Eugene which is a tough place to win on the road.

Arizona State

Toughest Stretch: Week 2-4

Opponents: Oklahoma State, Fresno State, USC

Arizona State has the benefit of playing eight home games next season, but that doesn't mean there aren't tough matchups. You can normally count on Oklahoma State to be a top-25 team, and while they won't be as good as they have been in years past they are the first true test for the Sun Devils in 2023. Fresno State has been a Pac-12 slayer over the past few seasons, and while Jake Haener is gone they did bring in a rising star in UCF transfer Mike Keene. The Bulldogs are always a tough out, and then of course the Sun Devils are welcomed to the Pac-12 play by one of the best teams in the country.

Arizona

Toughest Stretch: Week 5-7

Opponents: Washington, @USC, @ Washington State

A bowl game should be the next step for Arizona, but their first four weeks of their schedule shouldn't be tough of a task outside of the trip to Starkville. However, facing Washington, USC, and Washington State features three of the best quarterbacks in the conference who are all very different than any they will have faced up to this point. All three are mobile signal callers with massive arms, who could give this rebuilding defense trouble.

Washington State

Toughest Stretch: Week 10-12

Opponents: @Cal, Colorado, @Washington

All things considered, the Cougars schedule is one of the more friendly in terms of not having to face multiple top teams in the conference consecutively. If they are going to be fighting for bowl eligibility next season I imagine the last three weeks will play a huge part in their quest. Traveling to Berkley to take on Cal can prove to be a much tougher challenge than people realize. Colorado on the other hand will be a very hungry team looking to get a win whenever they can. The Apple Cup is a great rivalry, but the Cougars have only won it twice since 2009.

UCLA

Toughest Stretch: Week 4-6

Opponents: @Utah, Washington State, @Oregon State

The Bruins lost two of their best players and leaders in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet, which means it's a new era. Whoever is starting at quarterback for the Bruins will open Pac-12 play at Utah which is a very tough introduction to the Pac-12. Washington State could be a team that surprises people, and if the Bruins are still licking their wounds from losing to Utah could get caught sleeping. Oregon State will just be a really tough team to beat being that they are one of the most complete teams in the conference.

Oregon State

Toughest Stretch: Week 10-12

Opponents: Stanford, Washington, @Oregon

You'll probably question why Stanford is included if they are a team that will struggle, but they will be extra hungry against the Beavers after last year's last second loss. If Oregon State is as good as I expect them to be, they may also be the victim of a trap game against the Cardinal. Washington and Oregon State could be a preview of the Pac-12 Championship, and if it gets into a shootout can DJ Uiagalelei keep up? The game formerly known as the Civil War took an epic comeback last year, and Oregon will look to avenge that tough loss. That game will have implications as to who goes to Las Vegas.

Oregon

Toughest Stretch: Week 6-8

Opponents: @Washington, Washington State, @Utah

After their first five games that featured only one tough matchup at Texas Tech, the Ducks get a bye. Following their week off they will play two of the top teams in the conference, and both of those games are on the road. All of the teams in the Pac-12 with playoff hopes know they only have room to lose one game at most, so for Oregon to have two losable games in a three-week stretch it could very well end their chances by the middle of the season.

Washington

Toughest Stretch: Week 9-11

Opponents: @USC, Utah, @Oregon State

Up to this point in the season the Huskies only tests are Michigan State who is having some issues of their own, and Oregon who they will be playing at home. All of their best players and offensive coordinator returned to take the program to new heights, and this stretch of games will determine if they get there or not. They play three of the other top teams in the conference, and have no room for error.

Utah

Toughest Stretch: Week 1-3

Opponents: Florida, @Baylor, Weber State

Cam Rising is expected to be ready for the start of the season, but I am still skeptical as to how ready he will be. Utah is a much better team than both Florida and Baylor, but last season Florida got the best of them. Utah has been plagued by their inability to win the games they should, like last season's matchup in the Swamp, their game against UCLA, and even the game against Oregon. While Waco isn't the most hostile environment it will be a tougher task, especially after their Week 1 game against Florida who could upset them again. Weber State won't pose a challenge, but the first two weeks are just too important to overlook.

USC

Toughest Stretch: Week 10-12

Opponents: Washington, @Oregon, UCLA

USC is undoubtedly the best team in the conference, but will they be able to play like that all times? The Trojans have shown they are susceptible to blowing leads, and Washington and Oregon will have veteran quarterbacks that can put up points in a hurry. The cross-town rivalry against UCLA always adds some form of extra spice, and assuming the Trojans will have no room for error, a slip up in any of these weeks could be detrimental to their playoff hopes.