Pac-12 Conference

PHOENIX — Oregon State was coming off two losing seasons and there wasn’t much hope outside the program that it would get any better this year.

The Beavers entered the season picked to finish last in the Pac-12 North and there were rumblings that affable coach Mike Riley’s job could be on the line if things didn’t turn around quickly.

Despite the seemingly dire prospects, Riley liked his team’s chances.

Of course, every coach heads into the season optimistic and many come away disappointed once the ga

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State knocked out Northern Arizona quarterback Cary Grossart before halftime, didn’t play against Illinois starter Nathan Scheelhaase and missed Missouri first-teamer James Franklin.

Continuing their season-long trend, the Sun Devils will face their fourth straight backup quarterback Saturday night, when Utah and senior Jon Hays visit Sun Devil Stadium for both team’s Pac-12 opener.

PHOENIX — The Pac-12 season got off to a rousing start with Stanford outlasting Southern California in a game that had streamers and fans flowing onto the field at Stanford Stadium.

The conference gets into full swing this week with five games, the marquee-grabber a game that has the potential to top the Stanford-USC opener.

SAN FRANCISCO — Unable to reach a deal with DirecTV, Pac-12 Networks has issued an open letter to fans recommending they switch to another television provider.

Pac-12 Networks will televise 15 nonconference games and 20 Pac-12 football games this season.

SAN FRANCISCO — The new Pac-12 Networks will launch the inaugural football season by airing 15 games the first three weeks of 2012.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Aside from the University of Southern California's Matt Barkley and the University of Washington's Keith Price, the quarterback position is largely unknowable in the Pac-12. Other teams, such as the University of California, have returning quarterbacks, but they also have long, loping question marks.