The Pac-12 will release its Pac-12 preseason media poll Thursday morning. Here is my ballot.

North

1. Oregon

2. Stanford

3. California

4. Washington

5. Washington State

6. Oregon State

SOUTH

1. USC

2. Arizona

3. UCLA

4. Arizona State

5. Utah

6. Colorado

Champion: USC

While the Ducks will not be as potent as they have been the last few seasons, I still expect them to win what should be the lesser of the Pac-12's two divisions. Stanford narrowly edges out an emerging Cal team and the Huskies return more talent than many folks seem to be giving them credit for. While the Cougars have the talent to compete with UW, an Apple Cup in Seattle makes the difference between fourth and fifth place for the instate rivals. Oregon State is not going to be very good.

The southern division has at least four teams with enough talent to win, but only USC has the players to contend for a national championship. Arizona will again contend in the division thanks to quarterback Anu Solomon, while UCLA and Arizona State aren't going anywhere. A tough Utah team is on the outside looking in at that loaded group while Colorado is simply outclassed by the rest of the southern division.