When USC performed its first sport as a member of the Huge Ten towards Michigan final season, the Trojans acquired a not-so-friendly welcome to the “large boy” model of soccer that groups from the convention performed.
After USC took a 24-20 lead within the fourth quarter towards the reigning nationwide champions on the highway, the Trojans allowed Michigan to go on a 10-play, 89-yard drive that was capped with a 1-yard landing run on fourth-and-goal by Kalel Mullings with 37 seconds left in an eventual 27-24 loss.
That loss wasn’t backbreaking on the time, nevertheless it was the beginning of a development of video games that acquired away from USC. The Trojans led in some unspecified time in the future within the fourth quarter in 11 of their 12 regular-season video games, with the lone exception coming towards Notre Dame within the season finale. Even then, USC had an opportunity to tie the sport late.
This yr, Lincoln Riley’s USC squad is off to a 4-0 begin this season and climbed to No. 21 within the newest AP Prime 25 ballot. Two of these wins (Purdue and Michigan State) have come towards Huge Ten competitors, however the schedule is about to get considerably harder with three consecutive video games towards ranked groups. It begins on Saturday towards No. 23 Illinois on the highway, the place USC is at the moment a 7.5-point favourite.
After enjoying Illinois on the highway, USC has a bye week earlier than internet hosting No. 19 Michigan on Oct. 11. To shut out the month of October, USC will journey to South Bend, Indiana, to face No. 22 Notre Dame — a group that handed the Trojans their first loss in 2023, beginning a slide that knocked the Trojans out of CFP rivalry.
Riley’s groups have limped to the end line
In 2021, USC made a splash by hiring away Lincoln Riley from his put up at Oklahoma. The transfer was designed to raise this system again to nationwide relevance. Below former coach Clay Helton, USC missed out on bowl eligibility in two of his closing 4 seasons earlier than hiring Riley as his eventual substitute.
Riley’s groups have tended to begin quick earlier than falling. In his first season in 2022, USC was 6-0 earlier than dropping to Utah on the highway. USC had an opportunity at redemption towards the Utes within the Pac-12 title sport, however fell quick. To cap off that season, the Trojans blew a double-digit lead within the Cotton Bowl to Tulane.
In 2023, USC as soon as once more began 6-0, however there have been indicators that the muse was shaky. The Trojans regarded lackluster throughout a triple-overtime win over Arizona earlier than dropping 5 of their final six regular-season video games.
Final season, USC began 2-0 earlier than a midseason droop hat included losses to Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland, and Washington — all of which have been determined by one possession.
Riley’s late-season guess set USC up for achievement in 2025
Towards the top of final season, Riley needed to make a troublesome determination: proceed to begin Miller Moss at quarterback or flip to UNLV switch Jayden Maiava? Riley’s calculated determination to show to Maiava seems to be the suitable one. Moss ended up transferring to Louisville this previous offseason, whereas Maiava remained with the coach who has been labeled as a “quarterback whisperer.”
By means of the primary 4 video games, Maiava has thrown for 1,223 yards and 9 touchdowns (with zero interceptions). He has been taken out of the sport on a number of events already as a result of his group constructed such a big lead. As for Moss, he has thrown for 690 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for 3-0 Louisville.
Maiava was a star throughout his freshman season at UNLV, however the switch to USC was an enormous soar. The 4 begins Maiava made final season have been a blended bag, as he threw for 11 touchdowns with six interceptions. In USC’s win over Texas A&M within the Las Vegas Bowl, he completed 22 of 39 for 295 yards with 4 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Turnovers have been definitely a problem final season for Maiava, however they’re baked into his play fashion. He isn’t afraid to take dangers, however for USC to be at its greatest, Maiava has to mood his gunslinger mentality and care of the soccer. It additionally helps that USC has among the best extensive receiver duos within the sport, with Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon each projected to play on Sundays within the close to future.
USC’s protection (towards mediocre competion) has additionally been higher. The Trojans are permitting 304 yards per sport, which ranks No. 41 amongst all FBS groups. For context, USC completed No. 77 within the FBS (377.1 yards per sport) final season.
What does USC must do to get into the CFP?
With a schedule that at the moment consists of 4 ranked opponents, USC will possible have to complete with 10 wins — relying on how the remainder of the sector shakes out — to have a powerful probability of getting in. The Trojans have a gathering down the stretch towards Oregon however do not face reigning nationwide champion Ohio State or No. 3 Penn State.
The Trojans may play both of these groups within the Huge Ten title sport — in the event that they make it that far.
USC has all of the items in place to make a critical run on the CFP. The following stretch of video games is a defining second for Riley’s tenure. A 2-1 stretch throughout USC’s subsequent three video games — with the sport towards Michigan being a very powerful on paper — will put the Trojans in place to advance to the CFP for the primary time in program historical past.
