Coming off arguably the best Pac-12 campaign in more than a decade — even without a College Football Playoff team — a feeling of certainty has been cast over half of the league. Talk to any one of nearly a half-dozen schools, and they’ll tell you — this is our year.

But there is just as much intrigue as there is confidence. Which team will emerge victorious? And will it be enough to make it to the national semifinals?

As we kick off Top 25 Week at Saturday Out West, we begin with 25 Burning Questions about the 2023 Pac-12 season …

1. Will there even be a league going forward?

Last year, I asked that very question: “Will the Pac-12 expand, or will it be poached into oblivion?” Well, we have our answer. The league has done little to grow its coffers while the Big 12 has pulled out an X-Acto knife. Where that leaves the league, no one exactly knows.

2. Is Coach Prime for real?

For so long, Colorado and its splashy new hire were the story in the Pac-12. And now, for very different reasons, the Buffaloes have dominated recent headlines. But all this hullaballoo will be for naught if the Buffaloes burst out of the gate and fall, face-first into the ground. So much ink has been spilled on the instant makeover in Boulder, but it’s going to make for prime-time viewing to figure out if this incredible gamble will pay off.

3. Can Lincoln Riley steal the shine back from Prime?

Coming off one of the most incredible 1-year turnarounds in Pac-12 history, from a calamitous 4-8 2021 campaign to an 11-3 surge in Riley’s first season last year, the only thing that kept the Trojans from dominating preseason chatter was the complete overhaul in Colorado. At every step of the way this offseason, Prime danced as if he picked off a pass, with his every soundbite getting coverage. Now that the season is about to start, is USC ready to control the conversation with a quick 6-0 start?

4. Will USC’s defense be good enough for it to matter?

The only thing preventing the Trojans from advancing to their first CFP berth was an atrocious bend-but-don’t-break defense, one that focused on keeping players in front of them, despite the yardage. Only problem — Alex Grinch forgot to teach the Trojans how to tackle. If not for an opportunistic unit that racked up plenty of picks and sacks, it would’ve been particularly bad. If USC can turn into a top 25 defensive unit, the Trojans stand a chance.

5. Does Utah make it 3 in a row?

The biggest thing standing in USC’s way last year? Utah, which dealt the Trojans 2 defeats — a 43-42 instant classic in the regular season and a 34-17 beatdown in the Pac-12 title game. The Utes return a ton of talent, yet somehow feel like they’re going under the radar. Kyle Whittingham has slowly and steadily improved Utah’s recruiting to the point where they don’t really rebuild anymore; they reload.

6. Is Cam Rising ready in Week 1?

All of Utah’s aspirations go down the tubes if Rising isn’t ready to start the season opener against Florida. Unlike last year’s season debut, which ended in disaster for the Utes, this time the game heads to Salt Lake City. Utah isn’t set up to weather an extended absence for Rising, not with Baylor looming in Week 2. There may not be a more unforgiving first 2 weeks in college football.

7. What can Michael Penix Jr. do for an encore?

The biggest threat to both defending Pac-12 title game entrants could be up in Seattle. Penix, who led the country in passing yardage per game last year, truly flourished under Kalen DeBoer, his former offensive coordinator at Indiana. With DeBoer bumped up to head coach and Ryan Grubb with his boots on the ground working with Penix, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the loaded Huskies push for a Playoff berth,

8. Does Washington have the best receiver room in the country?

Not quite, but the Huskies are close. One of the reasons pundits are so bullish on Penix is the return of Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk. Had only McMillan and Polk returned like expected, UDub would be in good hands. With Odunze back, the Huskies have at least a top 3 group. Maybe they’re not as good as Ohio State, but they can give Texas a run for its money.

9. Can Bo Nix take another step?

It might not be the Huskies who dominate the Pacific Northwest, but their rivals to the south. Oregon doesn’t have quite the offensive firepower as USC nor the depth at the line of scrimmage like Washington, so much will fall on the shoulder and legs of Nix, who had a phenomenal career pivot last year in his first season with the Ducks. That was with Kenny Dillingham, though …

10. What can Will Stein do in Eugene?

… And not with Stein, the 33-year old former UTSA co-offensive coordinator. Like Dillingham, Stein is young, crafty, innovative and relatable. Unlike Dillingham, he doesn’t have an established history with Nix. It was nice to see Dan Lanning stick with a fine recipe instead of going old and wise. Forget ageism — the Ducks are building a vibrant young culture.

11. Is Kenny Dillingham ready for his moment?

And speaking of Dilly, the youngest head coach in the FBS, he takes over an Arizona State squad that was at an emotional nadir after the debacle that was the Herm Edwards Era. ASU’s leadership basically went for the exact opposite at head coach to replace Edwards, turning to a former student — but not a former player — as a high school injury ended Dillingham’s playing career prematurely, kickstarting his coaching career early. His story is already fascinating, but he can turn it into a best-seller if he can turn ASU around quickly.

12. And what about Troy Taylor?

The final first-year Pac-12 head coach is perhaps the most surprising. Sanders and Dillingham were 2 of the hottest names on the coaching market, but Stanford went with a curveball in Taylor, the former Sacramento State head coach. After former head coach David Shaw stepped down rather abruptly, the Cardinal snagged Taylor, the former Utah offensive coordinator. Stanford’s recruiting results have been spectacular so far. Win some games, and the Cardinal will have some real buzz.

13. Can Justin Wilcox avoid the chopping block?

Across the bay from a rejuvenated Stanford squad sits a beleaguered Cal Bears team that is trying to get something going under Wilcox, suddenly one of the longest-tenured coaches in the league. Once an up-and-coming wunderkind, Wilcox’s first head coaching gig has not gone as planned. Cal has 3 straight losing seasons and is seeking its first bowl bid since 2019.

14. Is Jonathan Smith the best coach in the league?

Smith, who took over his alma mater a year after Wilcox joined Cal, has almost an opposite trajectory. His squads went a combined 9-22 his first 3 year before turning it around in 2021, when the Beavers went 7-6. Oregon State had a breakout campaign last year under Smith, though, and now the Beavs are on the verge of greatness.

15. Will DJ Uiagalelei be the answer for Oregon State?

But only if the former Clemson quarterback takes a massive jump this year. The former 5-star quarterback and one-time Trevor Lawrence heir apparent, DJU fell out of favor with Dabo Swinney, lost his starting gig and turned up in Corvallis, where Smith hopes he can deliver an all-conference season. If that happens, OSU is a dark-horse Playoff contender.

16. Who’s the real dark horse, though?

Could it be UCLA? The Bruins are breaking in a new quarterback, but if Dante Moore is as advertised, the Bruins have the talent around him to make some noise. More and more, true freshman superstar QBs are finding a way to make an immediate impact. Is Moore the next one? It will all come down to Chip Kelly having the fortitude to start a true freshman.

17. Will the Pac-12 have multiple Heisman finalists?

While all eyes will be on Westwood’s new wunderkind, the ears, hearts and brains of the conference will be in Eugene, Seattle and downtown Los Angeles, respectively. Between Williams, Nix and Penix, the Pac-12 has never entered the season with such loaded cannons. It would be a surprise to see 2 of the 3 in New York for the Heisman presentation, but not too crazy.

18. Is Shedeur Sanders ready for the big time?

One more star quarterback is ready to seize the day — Colorado’s star transfer and Coach Prime’s son. The younger Sanders had a brilliant 2-year run at Jackson State, but now he jumps a level and must prepare for the most talent he’s ever seen. If he puts up the same kind of numbers he did in the SWAC, the all-conference race will be like Le Mans.

19. Who does Kenny Dillingham go with?

OK, one last QB question. Dillingham’s first year could come down to one important decision. It’s a bit of a Goldilocks and The Three Bears situation. Incumbent part-time starter Trenton Bourguet, talented transfer Drew Pyne or fabulous freshman Jaden Rashada? The dark horse in this race may be forgotten BYU transfer Jacob Conover, who was a local star in high school.

20. Can Arizona get back into the postseason?

The future is incredibly bright for the Wildcats, who are in the midst of putting together the best recruiting class in program history. Jedd Fisch and the Cats have a pretty decent present, as well. Good enough to go bowling? That’s the big question in Tucson after a 4-win improvement in 2022. Just 1 additional win gets the Cats to .500 and in the postseason for the first time since 2017.

21. Is this the year Washington State reverts to the mean?

The Cougars went to zero bowl games between 2004-2012. Since 2013, Mike Leach’s 2nd season, the Cougars have missed the postseason just once in full years — 2014, Leach’s 3rd season. With back-to-back 7-win seasons, the Cougars are looking to join the league’s top tier. Unless they regress.

22. How many teams will finish with double-digit wins?

Forget about the teams just hoping to sneak into the postseason — how many Pac-12 teams can dance with undefeated seasons? Last year, with 5 teams winning double-digit games, the conference was tops in the country. They’d take that again this year, albeit with maybe with a 12- or 13-win team or two.

23. Can Caleb Williams run it back?

Only 1 player in college football history won back-to-back Heisman Trophies — Ohio State’s Archie Griffin, who won in 1974 and ’75. Williams has everything lined up to put together another legendary season: familiarity with the offense, a talented supporting cast, weapons all over the field. USC needed Williams to take some heroic measures last year. The Trojans might need fewer theatrics from Williams, but might still end up better for it.

24. Who is the best defensive player in the conference?

Is UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who finished with double-figure sacks a year ago? Or maybe USC’s Calen Bullock, a ballhawking safety looking for another 5 interceptions. A pair of PNW pass rushers could also lay claim in Washington’s Bralen Trice and Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus.

25. Can USC become the Pac-12’s first College Football Playoff team since 2016?

It’s almost hard to believe that a program as successful as USC has never made a College Football Playoff semifinal. And what a way to go out. With 10 players on the Pac-12 first and second teams, this is the time.