The Pac-12 has not been back to the College Football Playoff since Washington last appeared in the 2016-17 season.

To some, the idea of an 8-game schedule to boost teams’ records (and, by default, their CFP hopes) is something the Conference could implement to get a team closer to the Final Four at the end of the College Football regular season.

Though it would be the same number of conference games as the SEC and ACC play, this approach to getting a CFP-caliber team from the west coast is misguided.

In today’s episode of Locked On Pac-12, I explain why an 8-game conference schedule is not a good idea, despite those who think otherwise.

Playing one less conference game has not been what has held Pac-12 teams from getting back to the College Football Playoff.

Aside from Oregon in 2019, no team was “one game away”—and even then, having an 8-game conference slate would not have assured the Ducks a slot in the Playoff.

The next Pac-12 Football coach to get an evaluation on the show is Cal Bears HC Justin Wilcox. Entering his fifth full season (sixth overall), Wilcox might have a slightly warm seat underneath him up in Berkeley.

Despite being at a program without a rich tradition of winning, the pressure may slowly be mounting for Wilcox to get things moving in a forward trajectory—and the offense has to be better for that to happen.

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—More from Spencer McLaughlin—

• McLaughlin: Colorado Transfer Exodus Cause for Concern?

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• McLaughlin: Where Will Ex-ASU QB Jaden Rashada Land?

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• McLaughlin: Oregon State Making Future Big 12 Moves?

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• McLaughlin: Colorado at Epicenter of Transfer Portal

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• McLaughlin: Does Ohio State Now Have QB Questions?

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• McLaughlin: UW, Others Poised to Make Big Portal Moves?

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• McLaughlin: Scouting Kalen DeBoer’s First Spring Game

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• McLaughlin: Should ACC Move on from FSU and Clemson?

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• McLaughlin: Has the Portal Destroyed Player Loyalty?

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• McLaughlin: Could ACC Fallout Lead to a New Conference?

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• McLaughlin: Would Big Ten and SEC Go for Super League?

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• McLaughlin: NFL-Style Super League Good for CFB?

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• McLaughlin: Pac-12 Rebuild Should Wait for ACC Fallout

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• McLaughlin: Why Ducks are Expected to Make 2024 CFP

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• McLaughlin: Would a Merger Solve ACC-Big 12 Problems?

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