Stanford Tabbed Second

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford was picked to finish second in the Pac-12 Conference North Division, as announced Wednesday by the conference.
 
Washington (249 points) was the top selection to capture the North Division ahead of Stanford (198) and Oregon (178), which each picked up single votes to win the division. 
 
Washington was chosen the favorite to win the Pac-12 football title in a vote of 42 media members who cover Pac-12 football. The Huskies received 37 votes to earn the preseason nod over defending Pac-12 champion USC. 
 
USC tallied 22 first-place votes to edge out Utah (14 first-place votes) to win the South Division.
 
The media expects the South Division to provide a competitive race with USC (225) topping Utah (209) and Arizona (178), which picked up three first-place votes. UCLA collected two votes, and Colorado one vote, to represent the South Division in the Pac-12 Championship Game. 
 
The media has correctly selected the conference champion in 30 of 57 previous polls, but only three times in the last 11 polls. 
 
The Pac-12 Football Championship Game will take place Nov. 30 and will be telecast to a national audience on FOX at 5 p.m. PT at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
 
Stanford begins the 2018 campaign on Aug. 31 against San Diego State. Kickoff at Stanford Stadium is set for 6 p.m. PT.
  
Pac-12 Preseason Poll
 
North Division
Team (First-Place Votes) [Points]
1. Washington (40) [249]
2. Stanford (1) [198] 
3. Oregon (1) [178] 
4. California [108] 
5. Washington State [98] 
6. Oregon State [45] 
 
South Division 
1. USC (22) [225] 
2. Utah (14) [209] 
3. Arizona (3) [178] 
4. UCLA (2) [116] 
5. Colorado (1) [80] 
6. Arizona State [72]