During the early and mid-2000’s, USC was the flagship program of the NCAA on the field. Nearly every player on the roster could start anywhere else in the NCAA, and the players on the field were on NFL radars. However, off the field, they were the exact opposite, which led to suspended scholarships, a bowl ban, and the vacation of their 2005 national championship.
However, USC is on it’s way back up. Though Lane Kiffin didn’t turn out as well as planned, he did an excellent job recruiting under restrictions, and gave new coach Steve Sarkisian a lot of good players to work with.
While 2015 looks like a much better chance for USC to win the Pac-12 title, once more talent develops and the Trojans get used to Sarkisian’s system. However, they could be primed for a 2014 run.
Here is a look at USC’s chances.
The Roster
Per usual, USC carries a very talented roster on both sides of the ball.
On offense, the Trojans retain a lot of their top players from last season, including quarterback Cody Kessler and wide receiver Nelson Agholor. Kessler struggled early with his accuracy, but as the season went along, he worked out the kinks, completing 70-percent of his passes in the Trojans final seven games, with 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions, with Agholor being the main beneficiary. Agholor finished 2013 with 56 receptions, 971 yards and six touchdowns and shined as Marqise Lee, now with the Jaguars, battled injuries throughout the season. They won’t be alone on offense either, as Javorius Allen and Tre Madden, who combined for 1,477 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground in 2013, return to give USC a very good running game to pair with the passing attack.
On the other side of the ball, the defense returns almost all of their 2013 starters, including defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who is projected as a top-5 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, linebacker Hayes Pullard, who led the team in tackles in 2013, and cornerback Josh Shaw, who is also projected as a potential first round pick. They have great players at every level of the defense, and incredible depth in their secondary, especially with the additions of Adoree Jackson and John Smith on National Signing Day, but due to their previous scholarship restrictions, they are still building that depth in their front seven. So if injuries strike early up front, the Trojans could face some struggles within the conference, especially with talented running teams, like Stanford and Oregon.
On the Schedule
While the roster itself is incredibly talented, the Trojans still have to play the games. Here are a look at some of the in-conference roadblocks, and how USC matches up.
In Division
UCLA: Many outlets are projecting the Bruins as the favorites to win the division. They have talent at every position, including star quarterback, Brett Hundley. They have a strong pass rush and a talented secondary, both of which could give Kessler fits. USC returns three offensive linemen, so they have the ability to neutralize the pass rush, but they will need a second receiver, either George Farmer or Darreus Rogers, to step up. Farmer, a former five-star recruit who has yet to fully excel in Los Angeles, is a candidate to have a breakout season for USC. If the Trojans are able to find that second receiver, their chances against UCLA go way up.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils had an offensive juggernaut last season, averaging 39.7 points per game. They return Taylor Kelly at quarterback, top receiver Jaelen Strong, and D.J. Foster at running back, who was second on the team in rushing and receiving. USC will need to be able to keep pace offensively to compete, and Sarkisian’s hurry-up offense will definitely help. On defense, they will need to find an answer for Foster, who can do-it-all, and can’t be contained by one player.
Outside Division
Oregon: The only way USC plays the Ducks is in the Conference Championship game, as the two aren’t scheduled to play in 2014. Much like Arizona State, USC will need to find a way to compete offensively with the Ducks, one of the nation’s top offenses on a yearly basis. However, this will be much tougher against Oregon, as they also tout an incredibly talented defense, with Arik Armstead and Tony Washington on the line, and Ifo-Ekpre Olomu lined up in the secondary.
Stanford: The Trojans first conference test will be against Stanford on September 6th, and it will be a big one. Stanford doesn’t play the up-tempo style offense like much of the NCAA, instead opting for a more old-school approach. The front seven will need to be healthy and ready to play, because the Cardinal will pound the ball. On offense, the Trojans will need to keep Stanford guessing, as they boast the top corner-duo in the country with Wayne Lyons and Alex Carter, and consistently have a very physical, aggressive front seven. They will be the biggest road block for the Trojans as they try to compete for the 2014 Pac-12 championship.
Is USC a Serious Contender?
Yes, USC is a serious contender to win the Pac-12 in 2014. They are very talented, and matchup well with all of their major conference road blocks. They certainly aren’t clear favorites, but they will be able to win the games they are expected to, and have the roster necessary to win their major opponents. Injuries could cause issues, as they are still building up the depth as they recover from NCAA sanctions, but It will not be shocking to see USC in the Pac-12 championship game this December.