Looking ahead to 2014 Northwest nonconference games
The Pac-12 released its 2014 football schedule on Thursday.
Here’s a look at what awaits the Northwest’s Pac-12 teams:
Washington:
Aug. 30: at Hawaii
Sept. 6: vs. Eastern Washington
Sept. 13: vs. Illinois
Sept. 20: vs. Georgia State
Sept. 27: vs. Stanford
Oct. 4: Bye
Oct. 11: at Cal
Oct. 18: at Oregon
Oct. 25: vs. Arizona State
Nov. 1: at Colorado
Nov. 8: vs. UCLA
Nov. 15: at Arizona
Nov. 22: vs. Oregon State
Nov. 29: at Washington State
Nonconference outlook: There’s a good chance UW will be 4-0 heading into its Pac-12 opener Sept. 27 against Stanford at home. That will be the first big game of the Chris Petersen era.
Washington State:
Aug. 28: Rutgers at Seattle
Sept. 6: at Nevada
Sept. 13: Portland State
Sept. 20: Oregon
Sept. 27: at Utah
Oct. 4: California
Oct. 10: at Stanford
Oct. 18: Bye
Oct. 25: Arizona
Nov. 1: USC
Nov. 8: at Oregon State
Nov. 15: Bye
Nov. 22: at Arizona State
Nov. 29: Washington
Nonconference outlook: The season begins in Seattle against a Rutgers team that lost to Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bowl. If the team’s improvement under Mike Leach continues, there’s no reason to think the Cougars won’t be 3-0 when they host Oregon in their Pac-12 opener.
Oregon:
Aug. 30: South Dakota
Sep. 6: Michigan State
Sep. 13: Wyoming
Sep. 20: at Washington State
Oct. 2 (Thr.): Arizona
Oct. 11: at UCLA
Oct. 18: Washington
Oct. 24 (Fri.): at California (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara)
Nov. 1: Stanford
Nov. 8: at Utah
Nov. 22: Colorado
Nov. 29: at Oregon State
Nonconference outlook: The nation’s eyes will be on the Sept. 6 home game against Michigan State. There’s a good chance both teams will be ranked in the top five.
Oregon State:
Aug. 30: Portland State
Sept. 6: at Hawaii
Sept. 20: San Diego State
Sept. 27: at USC
Oct. 4: at Colorado
Oct. 16: (Thu.) Utah
Oct. 25: at Stanford
Nov. 1: California
Nov. 8: Washington State
Nov. 15: Arizona State
Nov. 22: at Washington
Nov. 29: Oregon
Nonconference outlook: After this year’s surprise loss to Eastern Washington, the Beavers won’t need to be warned not to take it easy against Portland State, which won seven games this year. A trip to Hawaii followed by a home game against San Diego State complete two home-and-home agreements.