Sometimes you just get stuck in a rut. That’s understandable — we all have slumps.

But just like the theory that all good things must end, so too must bad things. It just takes a little luck, time and skill, and then those bad streaks become but a bad memory.

Here’s a look at some of the Pac-12’s sustained slumps that need to end in 2023…

Arizona: No bowl bids since 2017

Looking back, Arizona fans had no idea how good they had it with Rich Rodriguez, who led the Wildcats to 5 7-win seasons in 6 years, topping out with a 10-4 campaign in 2014. Arizona hasn’t so much as gone .500 since RichRod was jettisoned in 2017. Kevin Sumlin went 9-24 in his brief tenure, and Jedd Fisch kicked off his era with a 1-11 season.

But the Cats went 5-7 in Year 2 under Fisch, a respectable improvement, and they are on the prowl for a bowl bid for the first time since ’17.

It’s the longest Arizona has gone without a postseason appearance since a drought from 1999-2007.

Arizona State: No 1st-team all-conference DB since 2014

In a conference that is increasingly known for its passing prowess, the Arizona State Sun Devils have been playing with fire for far too long.

The Sun Devils have not had an all-conference first-team defensive back since Demarious Randall in 2014. Chase Lucas came close with a pair of 2nd-team nods in 2017 and 2020, but no one else.

Surprisingly, Herm Edwards — a star cornerback and defensive backs coach himself — was never able to make much of an impact on ASU’s defensive backfield. It’s up to Kenny Dillingham to address the issue.

Cal: No winning seasons since 2019

Just getting back in the black would be a major step for Justin Wilcox. The Bears coach led the team to back-to-back winning seasons in 2018-19, Cal’s 1st pair of consecutive winning seasons in a decade after 8 straight from 2002-09 under Jeff Tedford.

But the Bears haven’t been above .500 since going 8-5 in the 3rd year of the Wilcox era. They’ve gone 1-3, 5-7 and 4-8 in the three years since and unless Wilcox turns things around, his era may be ending sooner than later.

Colorado: No 1st-team all-conference offensive linemen in Pac-12 history

If Deion Sanders wants to put his stamp on the Colorado football program, he better do so up front, where the Buffaloes have had a shocking lack of NFL-caliber talent. The Buffaloes have never had a 1st-team offensive lineman in their entire Pac-12 tenure, a big reason they’ve never been able to sustain any real progress.

Coach Prime needs to get the Buffs a little buffer if he wants to get them out of the gutter.

Oregon: No all-conference 1st- or 2nd-team quarterback since 2014

Not even Justin Herbert could break what is quickly becoming an alarming curse for the Ducks.

Since Marcus Mariota’s Heisman-winning 2014 season, no Oregon quarterback has been honored by the conference. Not Vernon Adams nor Herbert, Tyler Shough nor Anthony Brown.

Can Bo Nix break the streak? He very well could, but he’ll need some help. Despite a terrific 2022 campaign that included 3,593 passing yards, 29 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions and 510 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns, Nix finished a distant 3rd in the all-conference race behind Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr.

Well, they’re both back, and the conference added even more passing talent.

Oregon State: No all-conference 1st- or 2nd-team quarterback since 2009

You think Oregon’s drought is bad? Just down the road, things have been even worse in Corvallis, where the streak is now up to 14 years without an all-conference 1st- or 2nd-team quarterback.

It never mattered all that much before last year, though, because the stakes were never that high. Then, quite suddenly, former Beaver star quarterback Jonathan Smith led Oregon State to a 10-3 record last year, despite middling quarterback play. The Beavers went out and snagged D.J. Uiagalelei from Clemson and signed Aiden Chiles to add to incumbent starter Ben Gulbranson, and a top season out of any of them might spell a conference title.

Stanford: No all-conference running back since 2018

The Cardinal used to boast the best ground game in the Pac-12, but it’s been tough sledding recently. In fact, the Stanford offensive line has gone backwards at times.

From 2008-17, a Stanford running back was selected to the all-league 1st- or 2nd team in all but two seasons — 2010 and 2014. Toby Gerhart, Stepfan Taylor, Tyler Gaffney, Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love was a pretty good run.

If E.J. Smith can bounce back from a season-ending injury and live up to his early season promise from a year ago under new head coach Troy Taylor, you can kiss the slump goodbye. Smith, whose father is NFL legend Emmitt Smith, rushed for 206 yards and 3 scores on 30 carries and added 8 catches for 63 yards in 2 games before being injured.

UCLA: No 1st-round picks since 2018

The NFL has not been particularly friendly to the Chip Kelly era of the UCLA Bruins. After Jim Mora produced 1st rounders at a tremendous rate during his tenure — six from 2014-18, including multiple 1st rounders in 2014 and 2018 — UCLA has not had one since.

One big-time season out of Laiatu Latu could snap the streak. Latu had 10.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles last year, his first with the Bruins after an injury at Washington was thought to be career-ending. Latu is currently mocked as an early 2nd-rounder, but he’s got a shot.

USC: No No. 1 overall picks since 2003

The Trojans have had some pretty darn good quarterbacks both before and after Carson Palmer, but none of them have done what he did in 2003: Become the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. Sam Darnold, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart — each went in the top 10, but not No.1

Carson, move on over. Caleb’s coming.

Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner with the Trojans last year, is a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick, ahead of North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Texas’ Quinn Ewers. If he comes anywhere near his 4,500-plus passing yards and 52 total touchdowns.

Utah: No wins over an SEC team since 2009

After falling to the Florida Gators in the Swamp for the 2022 season-opener, Utah out on what would have been its 2nd win over an SEC squad in program history. The last? Just the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Alabama, when they beat Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, 31-17.

With a key rematch against the Gators on its own home field in this year’s season-opener, the Utes can score a rare win against college football’s premier conference and start the season on a good note.

Washington: No first-team all-conference QB since 2016

After being named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and all-conference first team as a sophomore in 2016, Jake Browning never again reached those heights, and no Huskies quarterback has come close since.

No, that’s not true. Penix put together what would have been one of the top seasons in Pac-12 history last year, but he was topped by Williams in his Heisman-winning campaign. Penix passed for 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns with 8 interceptions last year, leading the nation in passing. If he maintains his level with the conference’s top trio of targets and Williams takes even a small step back, Penix can end up on top.

Washington State: No all-conference skill position players since 2018

The Cougars had a nice little run under Mike Leach with one of the league’s top offenses. But it’s been a while since a Cougar skill position player has been named to the first team. Quarterback Gardner Minshew was the last in 2018.

If Jake Dickert is going to take a step forward, we’ll need to see a big year out of quarterback Cam Ward or running back Nakia Watson.