USC Trojans Look to Shock the Big Ten in Year 1

© Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Southern California brings Hollywood to the Midwest to see if it can compete with some of the biggest programs in the country. USC and UCLA were the first two Pac-12 Conference schools to join the Big Ten Conference, followed not long after by Oregon and Washington.

USC comes to the Big Ten with a storied history, fitting right in with blue-blood programs like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. At Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, coach Lincoln Riley expressed the belief that his Trojans will add to their winning history and prove they belong in the B1G.

Many current B1G fans say USC is not built for the style of play the B1G brings to the table. Their perspective is that the battles in the trenches combined with the winter weather will be too much for the Trojans to handle in Year 1.

Like most top program fanbases, USC fans argue their team will compete with anybody at any time. On the other hand, some B1G fans suggest USC's fate in the conference will be similar to that of Nebraska—a program with a storied history that has been unable to succeed in the B1G.

USC will strive to prove the naysayers wrong in Year 1 and shock the B1G. Will USC be able to write its own Hollywood fairytale, made for the big screen, or will the Trojans be another big-budget production that flops at the metaphorical box office?  

Offense Is Not the Issue

The one thing Riley's teams have always been able to do is score points on offense. That’s mainly attributable to Riley’s ability to find and develop quarterbacks. As a head coach, he has had three Heisman Trophy-winning QBs—Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams. 

Now Riley turns his attention to Miller Moss to lead the Trojans on the field. Last season, Moss was the understudy to Williams, the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Moss showed he could take up right where Williams left off. When Williams opted out of the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Moss took the opportunity to introduce himself to the Trojan Nation and show just how good he can be, completing 22 of 33 passes for 372 yards, 6 touchdowns and 1 interception. Thanks to his performance in the bowl game, Moss finds himself on the Maxwell Award Watch List for 2024.

While Moss will be looking for a breakout season at QB, phenomenal Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch will be looking to make serious noise in the B1G. Branch was a true freshman first-team All-American as a return man last season. In 2024, Branch will be one of USC's featured wide receivers. With his elite speed and ability to make players miss, Branch should give USC a true home run threat every time he touches the ball.

To win in the B1G in November, teams must run the ball. Riley understands this, and in the offseason went into Southeastern Conference territory to pluck running back Woody Marks from Mississippi State, bringing him to Los Angeles. Marks is entering his fifth collegiate season and has shown the ability to run and catch the ball proficiently. He will be the veteran leader in a young running back room. Last season, for Mississippi State, Marks had 121 carries for 573 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also had 23 receptions for 167 yards and 2 TDs. Marks should be USC's bell cow RB in 2024 and give Riley one more effective weapon to use on offense.

Defense: USC's Achilles Heel

In 2023, USC had an offense capable of playing in the College Football Playoff. However, the Trojans' defense could not stop anyone. The narrative amongst fans is Riley’s teams don’t play defense. Because of their deficient defense, USC did not fully realize the potential of a once-in-a-generation talent, Caleb Williams.  

Realizing that defense was his team's main problem, Riley enticed defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to come over from UCLA to restore the USC defense.  If Lynn can turn USC’s defense around like he did at UCLA and make it at least a better-than-average defense, there is no reason why USC cannot compete with the best teams in the country.  

Lynn will have plenty of talented players to rely on in 2024, led by stand-out veterans. According to Ourlads.com, eight of USC's 11 projected starters on defense are seniors. If Lynn can get the most out of players like Kamari Ramsey, Mason Cobb, Jamil Muhammad and Jaylin Smith, the USC defense should see a big improvement over 2023. 

Fan Expectations

USC fans' expectations seem to be the same every year: win a national championship.  As with any major program heading into the 2024 season, fans believe all the pieces are in place to make them a legitimate contender in their conference and nationally. Some Trojans fans have expressed their belief that USC will roll by teams like Nebraska, Michigan and Penn State in Year 1, on their way to dominating the B1G for their first title under Riley.

Realistic Expectations

Fans' expectations don’t coincide with realistic expectations for USC in 2024. If USC comes in and dominates the B1G in Year 1 it would be a fairy tale that only Walt Disney himself could have made happen. The realistic expectation should be to finish third or fourth in the conference this season. With the new playoff format, a third-place finish might get USC into the CFP for the first time.

Vegas oddsmakers have USC with the fifth-best odds to win the B1G, at plus 2200. That puts USC slightly behind Michigan, with the fourth-best odds at plus 600.  Ohio State has the best odds at plus 150, followed by Oregon at plus 200 and Penn State at plus 500.

As the season quickly approaches, USC is looking to create its own Hollywood magic. The good news for USC fans is that it will not take long to find out just how legitimate this USC team is. With LSU on the schedule on Sept. 1, followed by Michigan on Sept. 21 and Wisconsin on Sept. 28, the Trojans will quickly ascertain where they stand in the B1G hierarchy. If they can get through that gauntlet of games with two or more wins, they might just shock the B1G and show they are a contender in Year 1.