Analysts share Top-25 opinions on the post-spring USC Trojans ahead of 2024 season
There are still more than a few unknowns regarding the USC Trojans as Lincoln Riley’s program prepares for its first Big Ten season. There’s little in the way of returning production when it comes to players who have done it in cardinal and gold. There’s a new starting quarterback and a near-complete overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. And the most talented offensive lineman is playing a position he’s never played before at this level.
But through all that, there seems to be a fairly consistent belief that this will be a top-25 team heading into the 2024 college football season.
Multiple On3 national college football analysts recently released their post-spring Top 25 list. J.D. PicKell has USC slotted in at No. 18. That’s below four 2024 opponents in No. 7 Michigan, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 12 Penn State and No. 13 LSU. And also a couple spots ahead of No. 24 Nebraska.
On3’s Andy Staples released his top 25 list on Tuesday. He also has USC in his top 25, but in at No. 22.
“Consider this a bet that Lincoln Riley has learned something about how to create a symbiotic practice environment that also allows his defense to thrive,” Staples wrote. “Riley has never coached a bad offense, but other than the pandemic year, his team has never had an even average defense. We’re about to find out if that was Mike Stoops’/Alex Grinch’s fault or Riley’s fault. D’Anton Lynn can coach a defense. So if the Trojans don’t get better on that side of the ball, we know who to blame. (They’ll also struggle to make a bowl game.) But if USC gets better on that side of the ball — and the guess here is Riley is too smart to allow this to derail his career — it’ll be instantly competitive in the Big Ten.”
Staples has those same five opponents ranked on his Top 25, and in that same order.
USC also jumped into the Top 25 for ESPN college football reporter Mark Schlabach. Riley’s program had been absent from every ESPN Top-25 list until now.
“Spring update: The Trojans didn’t exactly cash in on 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams’ two seasons, and now they’ll have to make their way in the Big Ten without him,” Schlabach wrote. “Quarterback Miller Moss takes over under center, and there’s little concern about Lincoln Riley being able to turn him into a top passer. Moss will play behind a revamped offensive line; Mississippi State transfer Jo’Quavious Marks is expected to be the top tailback. Riley hired UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to rebuild a unit that ranked 121st in the FBS in scoring defense (34.4 points) and 119th in total defense (432.8 yards) last season. There are going to be plenty of new faces on that side of the ball, including safeties Akili Arnold (Oregon State) and Kamari Ramsey (UCLA), cornerbacks John Humphrey (UCLA) and DeCarlos Nicholson (Mississippi State), defensive lineman Nate Clifton (Vanderbilt), linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (Oregon State) and others. The Trojans play nonconference games against LSU and Notre Dame and Big Ten road contests against Michigan and Washington, so it won’t be easy to improve their record.”
On3 college football columnist Jesse Simonton is taking more of a wait-and-see approach regarding Riley’s ability to fix the defense and where USC stands in his rankings. He didn’t put together a national Top-25 list, but he did offer a look at his Big Ten power rankings. USC has some things to show him this season as the Trojans slot in at No. 7, between Iowa at No. 6 and Rutgers at No. 8.
“Lincoln Riley got off to a hot start in the 2024 offseason, but the spring ended without much-needed sizzle along the offensive and defensive lines. The Trojans most failed to address key holes in the trenches, which stands to be problematic in Year 1 in the Big Ten. Miller Moss wasn’t overly impressive in the spring game, either, but USC does at least have options with UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava. The improvements on the defensive staff showed immediate signs this spring, but barring some late movement, the overall roster still isn’t where it needs to be for the Trojans to compete for a conference title this fall.”
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