I like this pick up, too.
I could be wrong but, given the state of the PAC-12, I think a USC PAC-12 championship is imminently possible in 2022.
Which would at least put us in the conversation for a championship playoff berth.
Absolutely. I think falling short this year is a Rose Bowl. Riley is completely believable when he says every year is Rose Bowl or playoffs at the least.
But, will I be disappointed if USC doesn’t make the playoffs? Admittedly, yes. Why? You said it: the PAC is simply weak. Helton’s debacle was in it every year until the end (that never ceased to amaze me). How so? Not because of his prowess, but because of the PAC’s detritus of a league.
Riley is a conqueror. He doesn’t play down or apologize to the weaker foes. He eats them up and moves onto the big dogs. The other coaches know this. They’re not happy. They loved Helton at the helm, as we all know. By the way: Why isn’t anyone (journalists) writing about this truth? How the rest of the conference is wetting their beds right now? Seriously.
These other guys are eating their nails down to the bone, waking up in sweat pools. Anyone who is competent respects a legitimate foe. Riley has already put together a roster that shows the myth of Riley is actually hard reality. His overnight roster that he cobbled together validates the reality of what he brings. Had he not have brought Caleb and the rest, okay, maybe Riley was a fad who is fading. But now we have rumor of greatness and reality of greatness right here, right now.
What does this mean? I think we make the playoffs. Really. We win the PAC, like you said.
Last thing. I want the Big Game. I want it bad, but maybe at this point, as one girl said in my twenties: “Not on the first date.” Me: “second date?” Her: “Promise.”
In this case: second date is second year (for those who need translation.)
USC in the big game next year. Playoffs this year.