Not all those early 2000 teams were cheaters, and they were dominate on the field, no question about it. Those offense and defensive units were stacked with NFL talent. I would take the 2004 (Yes, even with Bush cheating) USC team over any of the past 6 titles. I think next to the 2001 Miami team, one of the best this century thus far. That team was loaded.
USC schedule last year was not a cakewalk. Did you forget? ASU and Arizona were hovering around the top 25 at that time.
Stanford had Andrew Luck and went into triple OT. It was easily one of the best games of the year. USC hung with them the whole game.
Oregon game, self explanatory. It was in Eugene, and I'd say that trumps when LSU played them in Dallas.
Washington also nearly beat Baylor, a top 10 team. Was was and is underrated and their QB is sick, just sick.
For this year, Utah will be ranked in the top 25 by the middle of the year. They have a solid D, and a capable offense.
Come on, take off the blinders. The Pac-12 is a solid conference, 2nd or 3rd behind the SEC with some good teams. It is just the two conferences never play each other. (And when LSU visited Washington, they barely won in 2010, remember that one?).
The whole point is that the SEC is not head and shoulders above other conferences. They are top, but the depth isn't as wide as believed. Hell, I'd say last year, the Big 12 overall was on par with the SEC. Ok St, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas would rival with LSU, Bama, Ark, Georgia (who lost to Boise), and Auburn.