Pac-12 football coaches teleconference: Are changes necessary concerning the College Football Playoff?

Some Pac-12 coaches were willing to discuss the tall College Football Playoff odds their teams face in a deep conference with difficult scheduling practices. Others see no point in doing so. That, a few rivalry game notes, and more were talking points in this week's coaches teleconference call.

Utah's Kyle Whittingham

Whittingham's team fell out of the playoff picture with a 37-30, double-overtime loss at Arizona this weekend. The Utah head coach has a few solutions that could help the Pac-12 be on more equal ground. Among them would be making Power 5 schools have the same number of intra-conference games. "I don't think the problem is nine conference games opposed to eight. I think the problem is the inequality across the country. We need to get everybody on the same page, somehow, and get a little uniformity," Whittingham said. "The other solution would be, you have to expand the playoffs to eight teams and make every Power 5 champion in the playoff."

Arizona has been a thorn in Utah's side since the Pac-12 expansion, and Whittingham admits it. But while the Utes have failed to stop the Wildcats' ground attack in the past, it was the passing game that hurt this time around. "This year was completely different," said Whittingham, whose team hosts UCLA next. "We had no answer for (Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon). He played his best game of the season, in my opinion. They've had our number."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Kyle Whittingham's full session]

UCLA's Jim Mora

Mora was quick to point out that the Pac-12 may not be necessarily out of a College Football Playoff bid. Crazy things could happen elsewhere. But yes, the Pac-12 has cannibalized itself. "I don't think everything's in the books yet," the UCLA coach said. "Everyone's got at least two losses and some really good teams have three."

What changes could be made to even the playing field when it comes to the postseason? "There are some other conferences where some teams (right now) are playing teams of a much lesser talent level. I'd like to see the same set of protocol throughout the country," Mora said.

On Utah receiver Britain Covey and the Utes offense: "They're talented all around on offense. It starts with a tremendous offensive line and you have to commit so many guys to stopping a great running back (Devontae Booker) that it opens things up in the secondary."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Jim Mora's full session]

Stanford's David Shaw

Following a loss to Oregon that could end Stanford's College Football Playoff chances, Shaw isn't willing to discuss the need for more uniformity across Power 5 conferences. "I'm to the point where I'm willing to have that conversation in the offseason. It just sounds self-serving if I say what I've been saying all-along," said the Cardinal coach, who has previously been vocal about the Pac-12's difficult road to the playoff.

Additionally, Shaw said the season-long media discussion about the playoff has distracted from the bigger picture. There are more than four good college football teams. "We're not there yet. We're talking about January. Yes, it's created a lot of buzz," Shaw said. "The story is really how good college football is and not who's going to the playoff."

Stanford won't dwell on its 38-36 loss to Oregon. "Nobody is walking around here with their heads down," Shaw said before adding that six or seven mistakes doomed the Cardinal. "We also played really well the majority of the game."

Shaw, with high praise for Washington State quarterback Luke Falk: "Their quarterback is really, really special. We've hit the quarterbacks a lot, sacked the quarterbacks a lot. This guy can take it. I got a lot of respect for that young man."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of David Shaw's full session]

California's Sonny Dykes

In a statement released Monday, Cal athletic director Mike Williams said the team had begun contract extension talks with Dykes. "It was exciting to see that," the Cal coach said Tuesday. "They have faith we've made progress trying to do the right things ... Anytime people have confidence in you, it makes you feel good and gives you a sense of satisfaction."

Stanford visits Cal this week and, in form with the rivalry, Dykes did not want to talk in depth about former Golden Bear Brennan Scarlett, who is now a Cardinal. He called Scarlett a "good kid, good player."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Sonny Dykes' full session]

Oregon's Mark Helfrich

Oregon position coaches are fighting between themselves for more time with Charles Nelson, the 5'8, 170 pound receiver, safety and special teams player. Nelson's key 75-yard touchdown helped the Ducks beat Stanford. "In recruiting, he was just so good at everything, whether it was as a return guy, tailback, or receiver," Helfrich said. "He's always been a physical player for his stature."

Duck quarterback Vernon Adams was a member of the same 2011 recruiting class as his predecessor, Marcus Mariota. While Mariota was no big-time recruit (a 3-star according to Rivals), Adams was hardly on the radar. Helfrich admitted he knew about the high school quarterback but Oregon, like many others, didn't recruit him. Adams would go on to build his fame at Eastern Washington before transferring the Oregon. "It was one of those deals his coach said ... 'this guy's a great one, this guy's a great one,' which every high school coach does," Helfrich joked.

Helfrich sees no point in touching the topic of the Pac-12's slim chances of reaching the College Football Playoff this season. At this point, for this season, there's nothing the league can do. "It really doesn't matter. I don't say that in any way that is negative, it's just the facts," he said.

USC rolls into Autzen Stadium this week. The Ducks are confident and on a roll having won four straight games but "as soon as you flip on the SC tape, you perk up, and it gets you focused on the preparation in a hurry," Helfrich said.

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Mark Helfrich's full session]

USC's Clay Helton

Like this week's opponent (the Oregon Ducks), the Trojans find themselves on a four-game winning streak. Stopping Oregon running back Royce Freeman will be a point of emphasis. "Royce has the ability to break arm tackles with ease. Tremendous running back," Helton said.

Since Helton took over for Steve Sarkisian midseason, USC has focused on running the ball, stopping other teams' rushing attacks and winning the turnover battle. They've done that in the last four games after Helton lost his first game as interim, against Notre Dame. "Then the other thing is I'm really proud of them is the mental toughness to finish games in the last four games," Helton said.

Recruiting despite his own uncertain future hasn't been difficult for Helton, who said he's working as hard as ever on that front. "It's never hard," he said. "USC is never going to change. It's an easy product to sell."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Clay Helton's full session]

Washington State's Mike Leach

Leach echoed Stanford coach David Shaw's praise of WSU quarterback Luke Falk. The Cougs' coach also said Falk was tough. "Also, being real clear-minded after he gets hit and responding real well after he gets hit," Leach said. "Some of it is his learning curve and getting rid of the ball."

Wazzu's coach called the Pac-12 "top-to-bottom one of the toughest conferences ... I think indisputably so." He added that while SEC teams are playing I-AA opponents at this point in the season, Pac-12 squads are "in murderers' row."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Mike Leach's full session]

Colorado's Mike MacIntyre

Building a team from scratch isn't so easy in the Pac-12, but MacIntyre took some good lessons from a proven source in attacking the challenge. "I get my program-building from David Cutcliffe," MacIntyre said of the Duke Blue Devils coach. "It takes a while to build it. I think we're making a lot of good strides."

MacIntyre believes receiver Nelson Spruce is overlooked because of the Buffaloes' record. "I think that always happens, basically. He is a great leader on our team, a great example. He's a 3.6 (GPA) student in finance. Really enjoyed coaching Nelson, and he's been an excellent leader for us."

The steps forward that the Buffaloes have taken this year could be seen when they led USC, 17-6, at halftime this past weekend. The Trojans rallied for a 27-24 win, giving Colorado a 4-7 record heading into a game against Washington State. "Definitely should have won the game," MacIntyre said. "Our kids are frustrated about that."

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Mike MacIntyre's full session]

Arizona State's Todd Graham

When did Graham learn how important it is for his program to win the Territorial Cup against Arizona? "Instantly," he said. "It's the most important thing here, period."

Arizona State senior D.J. Foster has played both receiver and running back in his career, and Graham sees his versatility as an athlete as a good reason he's been so productive. "I think it's 50 games now he's had a reception in. He's been the mark of consistency," Graham added.

Foster also represents one of Graham's first big recruiting wins, both in stature and in developing success by keeping Arizona high school products at home. "Obviously, it was tough sledding early. D.J. Foster was one, he just trusted us. We didn't have a body of work to go by. We've made some really strong improvements there," Graham said, adding this upcoming recruiting class could be the best in terms of in-state success.

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Todd Graham's full session]

Arizona's Rich Rodriguez

No time to dwell on an upset of a top-10 Utah squad on Saturday. Arizona turns around for a Duel in the Desert against Arizona State, and the Wildcats have a shot at putting the Sun Devils' bowl hopes in jeopardy. "You know there's going to be a lot of emotions from the fans and from the players," Rodriguez said.

Between late night road games -- RichRod openly complained about late games this year -- to the nine-game intra-conference schedule, "there's some challenges in the Pac-12 some leagues don't face," Rodriguez said.

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Rich Rodriguez's full session]

Oregon State's Gary Andersen

Oregon State fell to Cal by a score of 54-24 and this week faces Washington, aiming to end a seven-game losing streak since Pac-12 play began. "Ultimately, it's been obviously a grind of a year," said Andersen, who added there have been many positives. One this past week was the breakout performance from freshman receiver turned running back Paul Lucas, who rushed 13 times for 70 yards against the Golden Bears.

Andersen has no doubts his team would finish the year with purpose. "We need to finish this off for the seniors and we need to be very prideful in what we're doing," the Beavers coach said.

[Right click and "Save Link As" to download audio of Gary Andersen's full session]