The Pac-12 has sat idly by as the SEC has stolen its thunder as the top conference in college baseball, winners of 3 straight College World Series titles and 8 of the past 13 championships.

With UCLA falling from its rarified air, USC struggling to save face and Stanford and Oregon State looking to rediscover the magic, the league could use a big year in 2023. Does it have the talent to take multiple teams to Omaha? That’s the question.

Here’s a look at how the league stacks up in our Pac-12 college baseball power rankings/preview for 2023.

1. Stanford Cardinal

2022 record: 47-18 overall, 21-9 conference

2022 postseason finish: College World Series

Best returning player(s): 2B Tommy Troy and OF/RHP Braden Montgomery

Troy hit .339 with 15 doubles and 7 home runs as a sophomore, then went on to dominate the Cape Cod League with a .310 batting average and 5 home runs en route to the league’s top pro prospect award. Montgomery, meanwhile, made a huge splash as Pac-12 freshman of the year last season and multiple publications have him tabbed as Pac-12 player of the year.

Best returning pitcher: LHP Quinn Mathews

There are utility infielders and outfielders, but is there any such thing as a utility pitcher? Now a full-time starter, Mathews was a star in several roles for the Cardinal last season, going 9-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings pitched. The lanky lefty started 9 games … and also had 9 saves.

Top newcomer: C Malcolm Moore

The top incoming backstop in the nation according to Perfect Game, Moore is also California’s top prospect. He’s a huge land for the Cardinal and should lift the pitching staff in 2023 and beyond.

Outlook for 2023: The Cardinal watched their grasp on the 2022 College World Series disappear into thin air. The No. 2-seeded Cardinal were the only top-4 team to advance to Omaha, but the team’s offense went cold in a 17-2 loss to Arkansas and a 6-2 loss to Auburn. Stanford returns a ton of offensive talent from the squad and adds some big pieces like Moore. It’s CWS or bust for the Cardinal.

2. UCLA Bruins

2022 record: 40-24 overall, 19-11 conference

2022 postseason finish: NCAA Tournament regionals

Best returning player(s): IF Cody Schrier / IF Kyle Karros

Schrier brings his multiple tools back to the Bruins in 2023 looking to build off a campaign that included a .298 batting average, 9 home runs, 42 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Part of a veteran infield that also includes Kyle Karros, UCLA legend Eric’s son, as well as Duce Gourson, Schrier is one of several team leaders.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Alonzo Tredwell

Seizing the closer role as a true freshman is never easy. Then delivering one of the best bullpen seasons by a Bruin in history is even harder, yet Tredwell went 4-1 with 6 saves, a 2.11 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. Now he moves into the rotation, where he belongs.

Top newcomer: OF Payton Brennan

Brennan is a highly skilled hitter who projects to be a middle-of-the-order fixture at some point. Is that point now?

Outlook for 2023: UCLA battled the injury bug for much of the season, and by the postseason, the Bruins’ typically sound pitching staff was barely running on fumes. John Savage remains one of the great coaches in the game, but UCLA has fallen from the perch and is dying to get back. This was a team that regularly contended for Omaha, and Savage believes his team is ready for a return trip to the CWS in 2023.

3. Oregon State Beavers

2022 record: 48-18 overall, 20-10 conference

2022 postseason finish: NCAA Tournament Super Regionals

Best returning player: IF Garret Forrester

A mullet-ed and mustached beauty for the Beavers, one of the Pac-12’s best and most colorful players returns to anchor the OSU lineup. Forrester was an all-conference first-team selection last year as well as Pac-12 Tournament MVP as he sported one keen eye. His 64 walks led the conference and ranked 3rd nationally.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Ben Ferrer

The former South Carolina Upstate transfer blossomed into one of the best bullpen arms in the country with a 4-0 record with 4 saves, a 1.72 ERA, .176 batting average against and 78 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. Even with his 2023 role still a mystery, Ferrer was named a Third-Team All-American by D1Baseball.com.

Top newcomer: OF Gavin Turley

A five-tool talent, Turley is getting tons of freshman of the year buzz, both for the Pac-12 and nationally. His combination of power, speed, arms and legs should reveal themselves quickly.

Outlook for 2023: You don’t lose a trio of players like stud 1st-round pitcher Cooper Hjerpe and 2nd-rounder Jacob Melton and Competitive Balance Round B pick Justin Boyd without smarting a bit. You don’t lose at home in the Super Regionals as a national contender without it hurting, as well. But the Beavers added some major talent and should be in the Pac-12 mix once more, a half-decade after winning the College World Series.

4. Arizona Wildcats

2022 record: 39-25 overall, 16-14 conference

2022 postseason finish: NCAA Tournament Regionals

Best returning player: OF Chase Davis

Davis is just 1 of 5 Pac-12 players in the preseason Golden Spikes Award list, and for good reason. As a sophomore in 2022, he slugged an impressive 18 home runs — tied for 3rd in the conference — to go with a .289 batting average with 56 runs scored, 13 doubles, 1 triple and 54 RBIs. His runs, home runs and walks numbers led the team.

Best returning pitcher: RHP TJ Nichols

If Nichols can trim his ERA, he could be a real force for the Wildcats. His 5.50 ERA was rough, but he ranked 8th in the league with 84 strikeouts and had 4 quality starts.

Top newcomer: C/RHP Luke Moeller

Son of 11-year major leaguer Chad Moeller, Luke is a dangerous 2-way catcher/pitcher who batted .408 in 4 varsity seasons at Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain High.

Outlook for 2023: The Cats have to replace some big bats in Daniel Susac (.366 batting average, 12 home runs, 61 RBIs) and Tanner O’Tremba (.351/11/56) and some strong arms in Garrett Irvin (5-4, 3.38 ERA, 71 strikeouts in 96 innings) and Quinn Flanagan (5-1, 1.63 ERA, 49 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings. But unlike Chip Hale’s first season, when Jay Johnson stole much of Arizona’s thunder and brought it with him to LSU, the Cats have some big talent back and some hope for the postseason. After getting off to a great start at 16-4, including an early conference sweep of Stanford, Arizona labored late in conference play; staying consistent throughout will be key in 2023.

5. Oregon Ducks

2022 record: 36-25 overall, 18-12 conference

2022 postseason finish: NCAA Tournament Regionals

Best returning player: OF Tanner Smith

Back for one last go-round with a chance to climb the program rankings in several categories. Last year, he set new single-season school records for hits (85), multiple-hit games (27) and at-bats (268).

Best returning pitcher: RHP Logan Mercado

In addition to one sweet ‘stache, Mercado has a wicked repertoire. He went 6-2 last year with a 2.61 ERA in 25 appearances and saved his best for last, striking out 4 in 2 innings in the Ducks’ regional opener against Michigan.

Top newcomer: IF Carter Garate

The Ducks love Garate’s glove and speed, and he’s a player to watch this year. He may not get a ton of run early in the year, but his particular set of skills will come in handy at key times.

Outlook for 2023: Oregon settled in nicely to the new dimensions at PK Park in 2022, leading the league in team batting average (.310) and finishing 2nd in OBP (.392), slugging percentage (.482) and home runs (75). Pitching on the other hand … as expected. If the Ducks can get more out of their rotation, they’ve got the bats to send them far. The Ducks lost some big bats in Brennan Milone (.337 BA, 12 HR, 55 RBIs), Anthony Hall (.333 BA, 14 HR, 56 RBIs) and Josh Kasevich (.310 BA, 7 HR, 44 RBIs), but losing a pair of pitchers like Rio Britton and Kolby Somers, who both boasted ERAs below 3.30, hurts even more. Luckily for Oregon, a seasoned offense and Mercado give them a solid foundation.

6. Arizona State Sun Devils

2022 record: 26-32 overall, 13-17 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: C Ryan Campos

A true impact freshman, Campos was named an All-American after batting .357 with 28 runs and 30 RBIs. His batting average mark made him the only freshman Power 5 catcher to rank in the top-250 in the NCAA.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Tyler Meyer

The ERA isn’t quite so pretty — 5.46, for the record — but Meyer went 3-1 last season with 54 strikeouts in 54 innings.

Top newcomer: SS Luke Keaschall

A dynamic speedster who starred for San Francisco for two years and was named West Coast Conference freshman of the year in 2021, Keaschall will add a ton to the top of the Sun Devils’ lineup. H was named a Cap Cod All-Star after hitting .320.

Outlook for 2023: Arizona State’s typically reliable rotation tanked in Willie Bloomquist’s 1st year as manager, and priority No. 1 for the Sun Devils is getting the pitching back in good standing. And you can’t really blame bad luck, either: ASU pitchers surrendered a 1.75 WHIP to go along with a 6.76 ERA.

7. Washington Huskies

2022 record: 30-26 overall, 14-16 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: C Johnny Tincher

Tincher was Washington’s best player both at the plate and behind the plate late season, earning both All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors. He batted .314 with 35 RBIs, 27 runs, 13 doubles, 5 home runs and a triple. All that, while boasting a .989 fielding percentage.

Best returning pitcher: LHP Stu Flesland

The hulking 6-5 lefty went 3-3 with a 3.22 RA in 50.3 innings, while boasting a solid 8.59 strikeouts per nine innings. He drastically cut down on his WHIP as he walked fewer batters in 2022 in 21 additional innings compared to ’21.

Top newcomer: RHP Kiefer Lord

A transfer from tiny Division III Carleton (Minn.) College, Lord stunned hitters to the tune of a 1.65 ERA with 81 strikeouts and just 7 walks in 49 innings pitched. If Lord can adjust to the quicker bat speed of the Pac-12, the Huskies may have found themselves a gem.

Outlook for 2023: D1Baseball.com’s 2018 assistant coach of the year after helping lead the Huskies to the College World Series, Jason Kelly returns to Seattle to lead Washington after Lindsay Meggs’ retirement. Kelly has a tall task in restoring the Huskies’ pitching staff to what it was under his watch, before he left for Arizona State in 2020 only to leave for LSU and Jay Johnson’s staff last year. Washington has some decent bats returning, so an NCAA Tournament bid wouldn’t be a shocker.

8. Cal Bears

2022 record: 29-27 overall, 14-16 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: C Dom Souto

Souto is a college success story; in 2021, he played 3 games with 2 starts as backup catcher. Last year, he also started the season on the bench before moving into the starting lineup, then went on to lead the Bears in batting while adding 29 runs and 27 RBIs.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Tucker Bougie

Bougie only threw 26 innings as a freshman 2-way player in 2022, but he made the most of them. He had a 3.42 ERA and 26 strikeouts, and his return is crucial after the Bears lost 5 key pitchers.

Top newcomer: RHP Joe Williams

The Pomona-Pitzer transfer will provide a much-needed arm to a Cal pitching staff that as mentioned lost a bunch of talent. Williams had a tremendous 53 strikeouts with a 3.47 ERA in 36 1/3 innings.

Outlook for 2023: Cal cooled off after a big start in 2022, finishing just a hair above .500, but they have to replace more talent than they return. Head coach Mike Neu will have his hands full this year.

9. Washington State Cougars

2022 record: 26-26 overall, 12-18 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: IF/OF Jacob McKeon

The Cougars’ lone preseason All-Pac-12 representative, McKeon batted .348 with 15 doubles, 7 home runs and 32 RBIs and led the squad in homers, slugging (.584) and on-base percentage (.446).

Best returning pitcher: RHP Grant Taylor

Taylor had an explosive summer in the Cape Cod League, maintaining a fine 2.57 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. That was a big improvement over his 2022 Wazzu stats, when he went 4-5 with a 4.67 ERA.

Top newcomer: IF Alan Shibley

A transfer from Sac Jacinto College in Texas, Shibley was a triple threat, batting .358 with 11 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He combines plus speed with a good bat.

Outlook for 2023: The Cougars are on the rise under head coach Brian Green, who led them to a second straight 25-win season, with series wins over Arizona and Oregon and a hug sweep of Arizona State. With a solid pitching staff returning, Washington State will seek its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2010.

10. USC Trojans

2022 record: 25-28 overall, 8-22 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: OF Adrian Colon-Rosado

Colon-Rosado is one of just a handful of big-time producers returning to the USC offense in 2023. He batted .298 last year with 34 RBIs, 8 homers and 6 doubles.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Eric Hammond

Hammond might be the most talented player on the team, but he is returning from Tommy John surgery. If he comes along quickly, the Trojans will have an ace.

Top newcomer: OF Austin Overn

A 2-sport prospect who also plays for the USC football team, Overn is expected to man centerfield and bat third as a true freshman. Even if he doesn’t star this year, he’ll get the kind of experience needed to anchor the team going forward.

Outlook for 2023: It’s frankly stunning to see the depths to which USC baseball has fallen. After the departure of Mike Gillespie in 2006, the Trojans have not found the right head man. Can Andy Stankiewicz break the cycle and do what Chad Kreuter, Frank Gruz, Dan Hubbs and Jason Gill have not been able to? The former Grand Canyon coach turned the Antelopes into a WAC power and now is tasked with returning the Trojans to past glory. It probably won’t be a quick fix: USC lost its top five hitters.

11. Utah Utes

2022 record: 26-27-1 overall, 10-20 conference

2022 postseason finish: None

Best returning player: C/IF Davis Cop

The Utes’ lone preseason all-conference selection and an honorable mention last year after batting .367 with a .478 slugging percentage in conference play. He wasn’t all too powerful, but he had 14 multi-hit games.

Best returning pitcher: RHP Cam Day

Day went just 1-6 with a 7.22 ERA last year, but he discovered a rhythm during the summer, sporting a 0.48 ERA with 19 strikeouts in just 18 2/3 innings.

Top newcomer: OF/LHP Kaden Carpenter

Carpenter was one of the top prospects in Utah and a true double-threat for American Fork High. He went 8-2 with a 1.75 ERA while batting .413.

Outlook for 2023: Utah could take a step forward this year after laboring near the bottom of the conference standings for the last dozen years. The Utes have some nice bats returning, including Cop as well as Landon Frei and Jayden Kiernan.