The midpoint of the inaugural football season for the new Pac-12 does not exist, at least not in a clean, easily identifiable fashion.
Half the teams have played seven games; half have played six.
Half have played three conference matchups; half have played two.
But against the full sweep of a competition calendar that runs from Labor Day weekend (for everyone) through Thanksgiving weekend (for all but two teams), the end of Week 7 marks a reasonable middle.
With that, here’s our Pac-12 midseason report, in which we highlight the best and worst, key themes and standout performers.
Top storyline: CFP relevance. Two teams, Boise State and Oregon State, remain in pursuit of a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Broncos (5-1) have a quality loss at Oregon and key wins over Memphis and Western Michigan. If they win out, a bid should follow. The Beavers (5-2) have a trickier path but will be in play if they finish with two losses. The conference could not have realistically asked for more at this point.
Best coach: Oregon State’s JaMarcus Shephard. The rookie coach has made a series of master-class moves with his staff and roster and could land on the short list for national Coach of the Year if the Beavers keep winning. Also considered: Boise State’s Spencer Danielson
Hottest seat: Washington State’s Kirby Moore. The rookie coach has made a series of deeply flawed decisions with his staff and roster. We don’t expect Moore to get fired after the season, although if the current trajectory continues, you could make the case for dismissal. Also considered: San Diego State’s Sean Lewis
Best offensive player: Oregon State WR Jesse Legree. The freshman has been a revelation and is generating second-tier Heisman Trophy support. He leads the country in receiving yards and touchdowns — not bad for a three-star prospect. Also considered: Oregon State QB Braden Atkinson, Boise State TB Dylan Riley and Texas State TB Torrance Burgess
Best defensive player: San Diego State LB Sione Hala. The senior leads the Pac-12 and is fifth in the country in tackles (68) and recorded sacks against both James Madison and Oregon State. He also forced a fumble against Fresno State that led to an Aztecs field goal in what became a three-point win. Also considered: Oregon State edge Takari Hickle and Fresno State lineman Dylan Hampsten.
Top transfer: Oregon State QB Braden Atkinson. The Mercer transfer threw 34 touchdown passes last year for an FCS team that won nine games, so he’s not exactly a rookie. But Atkinson’s field vision and downfield accuracy mesh perfectly with Legree’s skills. Also considered: Nobody
San Diego State Aztecs running back Josiah Lucas (23) scores his second touchdown of the game during the second half of a college football game against the Texas State Bobcats Oct. 3, 2026 in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
Best game: San Diego State 31, Texas State 29. The Oct. 3 affair in Snapdragon Stadium featured a series of momentum shifts, 40 points in the second half, just two turnovers and a stellar individual effort from Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson. Also considered: Boise State 38, Fresno State 31
Best win: Boise State 38, Memphis 20. If the Pac-12’s best team is drawn into a resume showdown with the American’s best team for a playoff berth, the Broncos’ Week 2 head-to-head win over a top American team could loom large. Also considered: Boise State over Western Michigan and Texas State over North Texas
Worst loss: Idaho State 29, Utah State 17. Double-digit home losses to FCS opponents are always ugly. Add 11 penalties and four turnovers, and this was an all-systems failure for the Aggies. Also considered: None. (We didn’t have the stomach to continue the research.)
Best performance: Oregon State WR Jesse Legree. The freshman’s breakout game came in Week 2, when he sliced and diced Texas Tech’s secondary for 240 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Also considered: Boise State TB Dylan Riley (Memphis), Texas State TB Torrance Burgess (North Texas) and San Diego State TB Javion Kinnard (James Madison)
Worst luck: San Diego State. Misfortune during the football season typically takes the form of injuries, officiating blunders or players short-circuiting in some fashion. When was the last time a team was derailed by the mumps? Probably the 1950s. Goodness, gracious.