ASU, Arizona near bottom in way-too-early Pac-12 power rankings

The confetti may still be falling at University of Phoenix Stadium following Alabama’s 45-40 win over Clemson, but now that the 2015 college football season has seen its final game played, people are already turning their attention to next season.

Here in Arizona, that may have actually occurred sooner as the Arizona Wildcats played their last game on Dec. 19 and the Arizona State Sun Devils wrapped up on Jan. 2. Neither team had the kind of season they wanted — with ASU posting a 6-7 record and Arizona a 7-6 mark — and it is hoped things will be better when they take the field again in the fall.

However, any belief that yes, things are going to improve, is not shared by ESPN college football writer Kevin Gemmell.

In his Way-too-early 2016 Pac-12 power rankings, Gemmell has the Sun Devils ninth and Wildcats 10th.

Each team will enter the season with giant question marks. Of ASU, he writes:

A new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator aren’t as big a concern as patching some of the holes in a leaky defense. The Sun Devils gave up too many explosive plays and weren’t as opportunistic as they’d been in previous seasons. That said, the right quarterback can also help cut down on some of the turnovers.

And of UA, Gemmell notes:

With a healthy Anu Solomon, Nick Wilson and an altered (not necessarily new) direction defensively, the Wildcats should be more consistent in 2016. There are gaps to fill on the offensive line. But defensive improvement has to be priority No. 1 for a team that gave up 35.8 points per game last year.

Both teams have undergone some significant changes already, with ASU losing offensive coordinator and deputy head coach Mike Norvell to Memphis, and Arizona dismissing defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich.

Each is also expected to welcome in solid recruiting classes. According to ESPN, the Sun Devils currently have the nation’s 22nd-best class while the Wildcats are in at No. 34.

Will the new players as well as improvements in skill and health be enough to help the programs exceed expectations in 2016?

If nothing else, it may be nice for each program to enter the season without the kind of expectations they fell short of in 2015.

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