LOS ANGELES (AP)€” Stanford has been picked to successfully defend its Pac-12 football title in a preseason media poll.

The Cardinal were chosen Wednesday for the first time in the 56-year history of the poll. UCLA is the Pac-12 South favorite.

Stanford topped Washington as the favorite in the Pac-12 North, getting 24 first-place votes and 186 points to the Huskies' eight first-place votes and 163 points. Oregon was picked to finish third in the North, getting just one first-place vote.

The Bruins drew 19 first-place votes and 180 points in the South to edge Southern California, which earned 12 first-place votes and 173 points. Utah was third with two first-place votes.

Stanford received 20 votes to win the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans were second with five votes.

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