In its last year, Pac-10 wide open

PULLMAN – It was like a set of waves hitting the Pac-10 Conference this summer, each bigger than the next.

Coach Pete Carroll leaves USC. The NCAA hits the Trojans with stiff penalties for violations pertaining to Reggie Bush. Defending football champion Oregon says goodbye to starting quarterback, and intimate of the Eugene police, Jeremiah Masoli. Commissioner Larry Scott tries to engulf the Midwest, but settles for Utah and Colorado, schools currently scheduled to join the conference in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

It was a summer tsunami that washed away much of the conference’s reputation as hidebound and slow to change.

But what did it leave in the backwash? A conference seemingly devoid of a national-championship contender, an omission even the conference coaches’ late-summer mission to New York and ESPN couldn’t overcome.

“Going to New York and taking on the East Coast bias head-on, I thought it was a bold move,” said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, who knows something about bias.

“I wasn’t sure about it at first … but it was brilliant.”

Brilliant or not, the conference will be judged on the basis of its teams’ success.

And no one, not even the people who cover the conference on a regular basis, can agree on what that might be.

Seven schools, from Neuheisel’s Bruins to Steve Sarkisian’s Washington Huskies, just two years removed from a winless season, to the Masoli-less Ducks and Carroll-less Trojans, earned first-place votes in the Pac-10 media poll.

Here’s a look at each of the conference schools, listed in order of their finish in the poll, with last year’s records.

1. Oregon

2009: 10-3 overall, 8-1 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Coach Chip Kelly announced Friday who will replace Masoli at quarterback. It is sophomore Darron Thomas, who won the competition with senior Nate Costa, though Kelly said both will play against New Mexico on Saturday. … Tailbacks LaMichael James (1,546 yards last season) and Kenjon Barner (the Ducks’ Rose Bowl star) give Oregon the best rushing tandem in the conference. … The entire offensive line returns, including area standouts Carson York (Lake City) and C.E. Kaiser (Central Valley). … Eight starters return on defense.

Meets WSU: Oct. 9 in Pullman.

2. USC

2009: 9-4, 5-4 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Lane Kiffin took over for Carroll this summer after one year at Tennessee, where he was 7-6. His departure from Knoxville almost caused a riot. … Though the Trojans can’t play in a bowl, they have a 13-game schedule. They open Thursday in Hawaii. … Matt Barkley threw for 2,735 yards as a freshman last season. … The entire defensive secondary will be new.

Meets WSU: Sept. 25 in Pullman.

3. Oregon State

2009: 8-5, 6-3 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Mike Riley has won 64 games in his nine years – and two stints – in Corvallis. … Running back Jacquizz Rodgers may be the conference’s best offensive player, vying with UW quarterback Jake Locker for that distinction. … Defensive tackle Stephen Paea is considered the league’s best defensive player. … Sophomore Ryan Katz is thrown into the fire in his first start at quarterback as OSU opens against TCU on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

Meets WSU: Nov. 13 in Corvallis.

4. Stanford

2009: 8-5, 6-3 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Jim Harbaugh has changed the culture at Stanford in just three years, turning the Cardinal into the Pac-10’s most physical team. … Though conference offensive player of the year Toby Gerhart is gone, quarterback Andrew Luck returns after throwing for 2,575 yards as a freshman. … The Cardinal have a few players going both ways, including senior fullback/linebacker Owen Marecic.

Meets WSU: Oct. 23 in Stanford.

5. Arizona

2009: 8-5, 6-3 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Mike Stoops was under extreme pressure after going 17-29 his first four years in Tucson. The Cats are 16-10 since and have gone to back-to-back bowls. … The offense exploded last season under returning quarterback Nick Foles (2,486 yards, 63.4 percent completions) and running backs Keola Antolin (637 yards) and Nic Grigsby (567 yards). … Both offensive and defensive coordinators are new this season. … The defense must replace seven starters.

Meets WSU: Oct. 16 in Pullman.

6. Washington

2009: 5-7, 4-5 Pac-10

Quick kicks: It only took one year for Steve Sarkisian to turn the Huskies around after an 0-12 record in 2008. … Locker decided to return for his fifth year and is considered the No. 1 NFL prospect. He passed for 2,800 yards and ran for another 388 last season. … The Huskies’ defense was porous last year (26.7 points per game) and lost standout end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim to graduation.

Meets WSU: Dec. 4 in Pullman.

7. California

2009: 8-5, 5-4 Pac-10

Quick kicks: The Bears’ Jeff Tedford won 10 games twice in his first five years in Berkeley but is under a little pressure after Cal finished tied for fifth last season. … Senior quarterback Kevin Riley has made 23 starts for the Bears but still had to earn the starting nod this season, holding off a challenge from Beau Sweeney, former Cougar coach Jim Sweeney’s grandson. … Shane Vereen, who gained 952 yards rushing, returns. … The defense struggled last season and has to replace five starters.

Meets WSU: Nov. 6 in Pullman.

8. UCLA

2009: 7-6, 3-6 Pac-10

Quick kicks: The Bruins got to, and won, the EagleBank Bowl in Neuheisel’s second year. … Expected starting quarterback Kevin Prince has been battling a balky back and may not be able to go in Saturday’s opener at Kansas State. … UCLA’s offensive line woes continue. The Bruins lost center Kai Maiava for the season. … With kicker Kai Forbath and punter Jeff Locke, both All-Pac-10 last year, the specialists are set.

Meets WSU: Oct. 2 in Pasadena.

9. Arizona State

2009: 4-8, 2-7 Pac-10

Quick kicks: For the first time in his college career, Dennis Erickson’s team suffered back-to-back losing seasons. … A late schedule change forced the Sun Devils to open with back-to-back games against two Big Sky Conference teams. … Former Gonzaga basketball commit Brock Osweiler is battling Michigan transfer Steven Threet for the starting quarterback position. … The offensive line, a sore point the last two seasons, is still in flux. … ASU’s defense led the conference last year but only four starters return.

Meets WSU: Oct. 30 in Tempe.

10. Washington St.

2009: 1-11, 0-9 Pac-10

Quick kicks: Paul Wulff is 3-22 in his first two seasons. … WSU will play for 11 consecutive weeks, then have back-to-back byes before meeting Washington in the Apple Cup on Dec. 4. … The Cougars head into the season with a nine-game losing streak. … As many as 10 true freshmen could see playing time this season, with most playing considerable minutes.