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Pac-12 stock report: ACC, Big Ten provide path forward for next commissioner, Martin enters the portal, the Juzang Effect and more

By Jon Wilner Bay Area News Group

Commentary on Pac-12 developments on and off the field (and court) …

Rising: Pac-12 football opportunity

Nothing tangible has transpired within the conference to suggest Pac-12 football is in a better place today than it was last week, or last month.

The commissioner search drags on. Economic pressures continue to mount. Recruiting obstacles remain in place.

And yet, from the darkness, a path forward appears – courtesy of two rival conferences.

In the ACC: Newly appointed commissioner Jim Phillips conducts a multiweek listening tour of the campuses in which he espouses the importance of football in a conference best known for its basketball.

In the Big Ten: Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who’s stepping down this summer, accepts a position with the conference office in which he’ll serve as a liaison to the football coaches.

With those simple moves, the Pac-12 has a model to follow:

  • A commissioner who embraces and touts the importance of football.
  • A liaison between the conference office and the football coaches.

Football, football, football.

If Phillips can talk publicly about the primacy of football in the land of Mike Krzyzewski and Michael Jordan, the next Pac-12 commissioner should do the same without worrying about the sensibilities of the conference’s treasured Olympic sports.

Talk about football.

Talk about winning football.

Raise the expectations for football.

Don’t say things like, “The scorecard we think matters … is academic and athletic success across all sports.”

Because, really, that scorecard doesn’t matter.

If the commissioner says the Olympic sports matter as much as football, then guess what: People start to believe it.

They believe it and they tolerate swipes by the national media and they shrug off close losses to Auburn; they accept going years without a playoff berth.

And then, guess what? You start losing recruits who do care about playoff berths and that leads to more losses and longer playoff droughts, and the vicious cycle unfolds exactly as it has.

Set a high bar and don’t apologize for it.

After that? Well, the new commissioner should hire someone – or several someones – who does nothing but plot strategy for football success.

The conference office did just that for basketball, as we reported during the NCAA Tournament run.

But for whatever reason, it has not shown a willingness to put its best football minds to work, full time, on all issues.

It should have done that years ago (as we opined).

Now, with a new commissioner coming on board and a path forward lit by the ACC and Big Ten, there is no excuse for the Pac-12, only opportunity.

Falling: Pac-12 recruiting

Most Hotline readers probably aren’t familiar with Henry To’o To’o, but his story will ring true.

To’o To’o was one of the top outside linebacker prospects in the country during his senior season at famed De La Salle High School in the Bay Area.

Like other top talents from the West Coast, he shunned scholarship offers from Pac-12 programs, although his preference wasn’t Ohio State or Clemson or Alabama but Tennessee, where he became a Freshman All-American.

And like so many others, To’o To’o entered the transfer portal after the 2020 season to take advantage of the NCAA rule change that eliminates the redshirt season for transfers.

But instead of moving closer to home, To’o To’o opted for an SEC school for a second time: He’s set to play for Alabama in the fall.

We raise this development to make a broader point: Yes, the Pac-12 continues to struggle keeping elite recruits in the footprint.

But the transfer portal, and the ability to change schools without penalty, provides the conference with the opportunity to reclaim the lost talent:

Players who sign with Big Ten or SEC teams out of high school, realize the fit isn’t right, and desire a return to friendly ground.

We’ll call this the Juzang Effect, for the Southern California-raised wing guard who played for Kentucky, came home to UCLA and led the Bruins to the Final Four.

The process applies to basketball just as well as football, and it’s something to watch.

To’o To’o got away, twice.

The Pac-12 can’t let that happen.

Rising: Arizona State basketball

The top hardcourt news of the week comes from Tempe, where Remy Martin, the Sun Devils’ star guard, has entered the transfer portal.

But wait: Wasn’t Martin headed to the NBA draft?

Well, yes, but he’s a marginal prospect, so the transfer portal ensures he’ll play somewhere next season.

But wait: Why wouldn’t Martin just return to ASU?

Well, sure. That could have been an option, except coach Bobby Hurley went ahead and restocked the roster (via the transfer portal) after Martin made it clear he would enter the draft.

Our view: Talented and popular as he is, Martin’s decision to leave ASU one way (the draft) or the other (the portal) is the best thing for all involved.

It’s time to move on: Martin’s better off playing elsewhere next season; and the Sun Devils are better off with that page turned.

The Hotline firmly believes the psychology that takes root once a player declares for the draft can have an adverse effect on team chemistry if that player eventually chooses to return to school.

Once the mental break is made, it’s difficult to completely reform the bond.

Martin has now declared for the draft twice. To think he could return to ASU for his fifth season and all would be as it was – for him and his teammates – seems unrealistic.

Falling: Pac-12 quarterback clarity

Spring practice has come and gone for 10 teams – Stanford and UCLA finish this month – and the Hotline is researching a deep dive into quarterback depth across the conference.

But for now, we’ll make quick note of one aspect. Eight teams will enter training camp with some degree of uncertainty: Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.

Of course, not all of the competitions set to continue in August are created equally:

  • Anthony Brown is the clear front-runner in Eugene; same with Charlie Brewer in Salt Lake City.
  • If he’s healthy, Tristan Gebbia is the QB to beat in Corvallis.
  • If he’s steady, Dylan Morris should retain the job in Seattle.

But so much flows from the position … from clarity at the position … that the Hotline will carry into the summer a morsel of skepticism about the collective state of play.