Can USC finally be a national threat again?
The University of Southern California was once one of the best teams in the country every year. When Pete Carroll was roaming the sideline, and players like Matt Leinart, Brian Cushing, Reggie Bush, Troy Polamalu, Lendale White, Clay Matthews and Steve Smith, the Trojans were consistently in the national championship game.
In fact, USC had the most recent dynasty when it won the 2004 and 2005 national titles, only to lose in the instant classic known as the 2006 Rose Bowl. Since then, the Trojans have seen most of their notable talent go onto great NFL careers, while the school has failed to cultivate many new stars. The quarterback position has been without a true star outside of Matt Barkley, who even had a disappointing senior season in his own right.
Heading into 2015, head coach Steve Sarkisian is hoping that this group can get back into the college football playoffs. USC is ranked 10th in the USA Today coaches preseason poll, putting them second in the PAC 12, behind only the Oregon Ducks. However, the conference is expected to be very tough with the UCLA Bruins, Arizona State Sun Devils, Stanford Cardinal and Arizona Wildcats also ranked. Then there are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who check in 11th and will face USC in their customary rivalry game.
The schedule is light through the first two games, with the Trojans hosting Arkansas State and Idaho. From there, things get tough in a hurry. Stanford visits the Los Angeles Coliseum in the third game before playing Arizona State on the road and Notre Dame at home. The docket lightens with the Utah Utes and California Golden Bears over the next two weeks, before getting Arizona at home. The Colorado Buffaloes then host USC, before the Trojans travel to Oregon. Finally, USC welcomes in UCLA to finish off the regular-season slate.
Needless to say, the slate won’t be easy.
Senior quarterback Cody Kessler has to lead the way. Kessler was terrific in 2014, throwing for 3,826 yards and 39 touchdowns against only five interceptions If the Trojans are to have a storybook campaign, Kessler has to overcome his star receiver Nelson Agholor going to the NFL and spread the ball around. Sophomore JuJu Smith must carry more of the load. Smith had 54 catches for 724 yards as a freshman, giving the masses hope that he can replace the production from Agholor.
College football is better when the traditional powers are playing for all the marbles late in the season. Not to take anything away from Boise State, because the Broncos are always an awesome story, but USC, Alabama, Notre Dame and Penn State are always important staples come bowl season.
If this team plays up to its talent level, we will see important football at the Coliseum in November.
