The Pac Ten Conference entered the 2006 season with one mandate: prove that they're worthy of their best team, the USC Trojans. For three consecutive years, the Men of Troy had steamrolled the competition in the Pac Ten leaving many to wonder just how good the rest of the conference was--and in 2006 the Pac Ten proved that it was, with a couple notable exception, able to hang with the best of the College Football universe.
Opening weekend amounted to a miniature Pac Ten-SEC challenge, with the Southeastern Conference coming out the winners. Although USC took eventual SEC West Champion Arkansas to task in Fayetteville, Washington State lost to Auburn and California barely put up a fight on Rocky Top.
By the end of the season, both Oregon State and UCLA had proven that the Trojans were fallable, and the bottom of the conference took its best shots at the top--with Arizona scoring one of the season's greatest upsets defeating conference co-champions California. Along the way, there was a cluster of five teams which were all battling to avoid third place in the Conference and the "coveted" Las Vegas Bowl invitation that went with it.
| Most Ridiculous Moment |
| We have a tie: Oklahoma at Oregon: This actually comes to us from the Big XII conference recap for 2006. Yes, the Pac Ten referees and their mediocrity could easily be the "most disappointing" factors of the season, if it weren't for... |
| Most Disappointing |
 Arizona State (team). Although the Arizona State Sun Devils managed to make it to a bowl game, they hardly looked like the top-tier team in the conference many had expected. Dirk Koetter failed to win a game in the State of California during his career, which may explain why his career as head coach in Tempe came to an end in 2006.Dwayne Jarrett (player). USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett was supposed to take the pressure off of John David Booty as the Trojan quarterback tried to fill the shoes of Matt Leinart. But injuries and inconsistent play once he finally got on the field made Jarrett's season less than had been expected. Sure he broke the school record for touchdown receptions, but he wasn't always there when his teammates needed him. |
| Most Improved |
 UCLA Defense. The UCLA Bruins entered the season still licking their wounds from a 66-19 drubbing to cross-town rival USC in 2005 and expected to be lucky to compete for a bowl. Head Coach Karl Dorrell had websites devoted to his demise, despite having contract extensions as far as the eye could see. Mid-season, starting quarterback Ben Olson went down to injury leaving the Bruins to rely on their backup for six games.The Bruins made a valiant effort in South Bend before losing to Notre Dame as part of a four game losing streak--but their 6-6 regular season record was forgiven on a saturday afternoon in December when the Sons of Westwood ended a 7-year losing streak to cross-town rival USC by holding the Trojans to single-digits for the first time in six years. Honorable Mention: Oregon State. The Beavers were on nobody's radar all season long yet, on the strength of their upset over USC and solid play managed to finish in the top 25--one of only three teams from the Pac Ten to do so. |
| Greatest Finish |
| USC at Oregon State. The USC Trojans traveled to Corvallis late in the season having moved from sixth place in early polls to the point where, if they won the rest of their games, they'd be guaranteed a trip to the BCS Title game. But the Beavers had something else in mind. Oregon State forced four turnovers en route to a 33-10 lead with less than five minutes left in the third quarter. Down but not defeated, the Trojans subsequently scored three straight touchdowns, coming within two points of tying the game with but seven seconds left on the clock. On the two-point conversion, however, John David Booty's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage setting of a stampede for the goalposts for loyal Beaver believers. |
