Pac-12 Playhouse, 6/22: Universities return to athletic activities

The Pac-12 has seen a recent rise in commitments for the football programs and their classes of 2021. While it’s a race against USC and Oregon at this point, UCLA and Washington are making great strides while other programs are falling off.

This, of course, comes in light of the fact that the Pac-12 has allowed voluntary athletic activities to return to campus, albeit strict guidelines following the coronavirus pandemic. California even allowed student-athletes to return and seemingly three of the four have had no issue with their plans to reopen.

UCLA, on the other hand, has had a mutiny on their hands. Including starting QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, 30 different Bruins football players have stood behind a letter demanding protection from third-party officials upon their return to campus. They cited mismanagement of injuries in the past as to one of the main reasons and want whistleblower protection for any student-athlete or trainer who witnesses violations of the guidelines put in place by the Pac-12.

They penned a letter that was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times and later by ESPN and it all remains to be seen how they go about returning to campus, whether or not they do at all. UCLA scheduled Monday, June 22 as their date to start Phase One of the opening of campus for student-athletes.

With that, here’s the rest of the news from around the SB Nation family of sites in the Pac-12:

Addicted to Quack — Oregon Ducks

Return of the Quack: Alex Forsyth
Quack Fix 6-22-20: Worthy of Xavier?
Jaylin Davies, 4* Cornerback, commits to Ducks

Arizona Desert Swarm — Arizona Wildcats

What condition are Arizona’s quarterbacks in?
Kevin Sumlin says Arizona’s offensive line will be ‘biggest change’ in 2020
Arizona’s first wave of football players test negative for coronavirus

Block U — Utah Utes

Who was the Utah football offensive MVP in 2019?
Utah football favored to win 11 games by ESPn’s FPI
Utah Athletics release plan for phased re-opening of athletics facilities

Bruins Nation — UCLA Bruins

Read the UCLA football players’ full letter
The 30 athletes named in the Bruins players’ letter to UCLA
4-star OT Thomas Cole commits to the Bruins!

Building the Dame — Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State Football: A midsummer’s opponent preview - Arizona State
Oregon State Football: 2021 RB Damir Collins commits to Beavers
Oregon State’s Ken Simonton & Mike Hass on College Football Hall of Fame ballot

California Golden Blogs — California Golden Bears

Get to know Cal commit Fatuvalu Iosefa
Golden Nuggets for 6/21: Cal football returns
Video Highlights: 4-star Cal commit WR Mavin Anderson

Conquest Chronicles — USC Trojans

Max Tuerk tragically passes away at 26
Miller Moss named 2020 Elite 11 Finalist
AD Mike Bohn establishes USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team

CougCenter — Washington State Cougars

A closer look at Kyle Smith’s recruiting haul
WSU lands top 2020 international prospect Andrej Jakimovski
Who’s committed for 2021? Here’s an up-to-date list

House of Sparky — Arizona State Sun Devils

ASU Football: Pennsylvania DE Robert Jackson lists ASU in top 10
ASU Football: Recruiting experts predictions
ASU Football: North Carolina edge Isaiah Pipkins commits to Sun Devils

Rule of Tree — Stanford Cardinal

Stanford earns handful of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
Video Highlights: Stanford commit, 3-star QB Ari Patu
Top 10 Receiving Performances of the David Shaw era

The Ralphie Report — Colorado Buffaloes

Mike Gundy’s comments towards Colorado Buffaloes resurfaces from 1989
Three Buffs named to 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Texas OL commits to Colorado Football

UW Dawg Pound — Washington Huskies

#Woof: Huskies land 4-star LB from Washington
Week of 6/22 Out of Bounds Threat
Recruiting Roundup: Huskies extender several new offers & other notes