The Pac-12 Conference announced the annual football preseason media poll on Wednesday morning as it prepares to host the annual media day event at Hollywood & Highland. UCLA was voted tied for third in the Pac-12 South Division race and four Bruins were recognized on the media's preseason all-conference squad.
UCLA, which finished fifth in the Pac-12 South last season, received 118 votes to equal the tally for Arizona State in a tie for third in this year's media vote. Utah, with 33 first-place votes, was the favorite among the writers to claim the Division title.
Junior cornerback Darnay Holmes received second-team all-conference recognition from the writers. He led the Bruin team with 12 pass defenses and three interceptions in 2018. Holmes returned one interception for a touchdown against ASU and returned a kickoff for a score against Stanford. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles (48).
Three Bruin seniors – wide receiver Theo Howard, running back Joshua Kelley and kicker JJ Molson – were included on the honorable mention list (receiving votes from at least four writers).
Howard registered a second-straight 50-catch season for the Bruins in 2018. In the Utah game, he became the 25th Bruin to record 100 career catches and he went over the 1,000-yard career receiving mark versus Arizona. Howard ended the season with 119 career receptions which places him 16th on the all-time school list.
Kelley rushed for 1,243 yards last season, the 10th-highest total in school history. He racked up six 100-yard rushing games on the season, highlighted by a 289-yard effort against the Trojans which was the most-ever by a running back from either team in the rivalry series. Kelley, one of four conference backs to rate among the top 10 in the nation in rushing yards/game, rated ninth with a 113.0 yards per game mark. He was 18th in the NCAA in all-purpose yards/game (130.55).
Molson converted 14 of 19 field goal attempts during the 2018 season. He connected on his first career 50-yard kick and ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in field goals made/game (1.17).
Single-game tickets for UCLA home games at the Rose Bowl are now available at uclabruins.com/tickets. The Bruins will open the season on August 29 at Cincinnati (4 p.m. PT) and then play at home the following two Saturdays against San Diego State (Sept.7) at 1:15 p.m. and Oklahoma (Sept. 14) at 5 p.m.
The 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 in Levi's® Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. and will be televised by ABC at 5 p.m. PT
2019 Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll
South Division
Utah (33)…………….206
USC (2) ……………...167
UCLA ……………......118
Arizona State ……….118
Arizona ………………85
Colorado …………….46
North Division
Oregon (17) …………190
Washington (17) ……189
Stanford ……………..129
Wash. State (1) …….108
California …………….81
Oregon State ………..38
UCLA, which finished fifth in the Pac-12 South last season, received 118 votes to equal the tally for Arizona State in a tie for third in this year's media vote. Utah, with 33 first-place votes, was the favorite among the writers to claim the Division title.
Junior cornerback Darnay Holmes received second-team all-conference recognition from the writers. He led the Bruin team with 12 pass defenses and three interceptions in 2018. Holmes returned one interception for a touchdown against ASU and returned a kickoff for a score against Stanford. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles (48).
Three Bruin seniors – wide receiver Theo Howard, running back Joshua Kelley and kicker JJ Molson – were included on the honorable mention list (receiving votes from at least four writers).
Howard registered a second-straight 50-catch season for the Bruins in 2018. In the Utah game, he became the 25th Bruin to record 100 career catches and he went over the 1,000-yard career receiving mark versus Arizona. Howard ended the season with 119 career receptions which places him 16th on the all-time school list.
Kelley rushed for 1,243 yards last season, the 10th-highest total in school history. He racked up six 100-yard rushing games on the season, highlighted by a 289-yard effort against the Trojans which was the most-ever by a running back from either team in the rivalry series. Kelley, one of four conference backs to rate among the top 10 in the nation in rushing yards/game, rated ninth with a 113.0 yards per game mark. He was 18th in the NCAA in all-purpose yards/game (130.55).
Molson converted 14 of 19 field goal attempts during the 2018 season. He connected on his first career 50-yard kick and ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in field goals made/game (1.17).
Single-game tickets for UCLA home games at the Rose Bowl are now available at uclabruins.com/tickets. The Bruins will open the season on August 29 at Cincinnati (4 p.m. PT) and then play at home the following two Saturdays against San Diego State (Sept.7) at 1:15 p.m. and Oklahoma (Sept. 14) at 5 p.m.
The 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 in Levi's® Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. and will be televised by ABC at 5 p.m. PT
2019 Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll
South Division
Utah (33)…………….206
USC (2) ……………...167
UCLA ……………......118
Arizona State ……….118
Arizona ………………85
Colorado …………….46
North Division
Oregon (17) …………190
Washington (17) ……189
Stanford ……………..129
Wash. State (1) …….108
California …………….81
Oregon State ………..38