Ranking the 2016 Pac-12 backfields: Huskies have best backfield in Pac-12

1. Washington (QB Jake Browning So. RB Myles Gaskin So. RB Lavon Coleman Jr.) - A very weak year for backfields in the conference with all of the name brand QBs and RBs leaving, but that doesn't mean the Huskies don't have a very exciting one-two QB/RB punch in Browning and Gaskin. Browning was arguably the best true freshman quarterback in the nation not named Rosen and Gaskin ran for more than 1,300 and scored 14 touchdowns as a true freshman.

2. Oregon (QB Dakota Prukop Sr.  RB. Royce Freeman Jr. RB Taj Griffin So. RB Kani Benoit Jr.) - The Ducks are a question mark at quarterback, but let's assume Prukop wins the job and is at least better than Jeff Lockie. Freeman is an unquestioned top five back in the country with the potential to be number one and Griffin could turn into the best home run threat the Ducks have had since  De'Anthony Thomas.

3. USC (QB Max Browne Jr. RB Ronald Jones So. RB Justin Davis Sr.) - Browne might lose the job to redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, but either way, the Trojans will be inexperienced, but talented at quarterback. It's all about running back here where the electric Jones could get right up there with Freeman and McCaffrey should he progress and the bigger, more-experienced Davis is the conference's best number two back who is also a great pass catcher.

4. Arizona (QB Anu Solomon Jr. RB Nick Wilson Jr. RB Orlando Bradford So.) - The Wildcats have the conference's most-experienced QB/RB duo in Solomon and Wilson but also it's most inconsistent. If Solomon can progress in the way he should be able and if Wilson can stay healthy, this could be the best backfield in the conference.

5. Arizona State (QB Manny Wilkins So. RB Demario Richard Jr. RB Kalen Ballage Jr.) - Quarterback is a question mark, but running back is not at all as the Sun Devils have a deadly combo. The 220-pound Richard ran for more than a thousand yards in 2015 and the 6'3 230 Ballage ran for more than 600.

6. Stanford (QB Ryan Burns Sr. RB Christian McCaffrey Jr. RB Bryce Love So.) - This one is all about McCaffrey as either Burns of Keller Chryst will be first-year starters, but oh is McCaffrey a good single piece to hang your hat on as the best overall player in the nation at any position.

7. Cal (QB Davis Webb Sr. RB Vic Enwere Jr. RB Khalfani Muhammad Sr. RB Tre Watson Jr.) - Goff's likely replacement, Webb is a nice veteran transfer and  Enwere and Muhammad will be an awesome thunder and lightning combo with Watson as an excellent third option. Together they ran for more than 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015.

8. Washington State (QB Luke Falk Jr. RB Gerard Wicks Jr. RB Jamal Morrow Jr. Keith Harrington So.) - Falk is the conference's best quarterback heading into the season and a legit Heisman candidate. Their running back crew is actually pretty proven and solid given how rarely the Cougars run the ball.The three combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards in 2015 and caught seven touchdowns.

9. UCLA (QB Josh Rosen So. RB Nate Starks Jr. RB Soso Jamabo So. RB Bolu Olorunfunmi So.) - Rosen is a superstar in the making and probably the conference's best QB after Falk. Starks and Jamabo are also young stars in the making who combined for more than 700 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in 2015.

10. Colorado (QB Sefo Liufau Sr. RB Phillip Lindsay So. RB Donovan Lee Jr. RB Michael Adkins II Sr.) Underrated backfield if Liufau, who could be one of the better and most-experienced quarterbacks in the conference, is healthy. Lindsay is a 5'8 180 speedster who blew up as a freshman with nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. Lee and Adkins are great back-ups who combined for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns.

11. Utah (QB Brandon Cox Jr. RB Joe Williams Sr. RB Troy McCormick Jr.) - Drop off here as the Utes are breaking in a new quarterback TBA and replacing Devontae Booker. Williams was very nice filling in for Booker when he went out with an injury last year and put up nice numbers.

12. Oregon State (QB Darell Garretson Jr. RB Ryan Nall So. RB Damien Haskins Jr.) - The Beavers have to replace a true freshman starting quarterback and have a promising transfer from Utah State in Garretson. Nall is a 6'2 255 fullback type back who ran for nearly 500 yards in 2015.