Brenden Rice predicts USC will win 2023 Pac-12 championship

The USC Trojans didn’t have the ending to their season that they had hoped for. But wide receiver Brenden Rice believes his Trojans will have no problem improving in the results from last year. So much so that Rice called the Trojans shot with a bold prediction for their 2023 campaign.

“The energy level; it’s a lot more competition. Like last year, I would have to definitely say that we didn’t know the plays,” said Rice. “We were trying to impress the coaches. But now, we’re trying to dial in and lock in on what we already perfected to make it even more indestructible. Now, we’re trying to create that bond to make sure we go all the way. We were so close last year; (we) lost in the championship. We’re gonna go all the way, push through, (and) hold that gold ball up.”

USC finishing next season as Pac-12 champ is not farfetched in the slightest. The Trojans looked to be in complete control of their championship showdown against the Utes. That was until eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams was hobbled with a leg injury. Without Williams’ ability to extend and create plays with his legs or even step into his throws, the Trojans’ defense fell stagnant. USC would fall to Utah 47-24 and have their season completely derailed. The Trojans lost the Pac-12 crown and were knocked out of the College Football Playoff all in one swoop.

Rice and Williams make USC’s Pac-12 title chances better

As mentioned earlier, last season, Williams took home the Heisman Trophy. He took home the trophy thanks to his unique dual-threat skillset. Williams threw for 4,537 yards, rushed for another 382, had 42 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing, and ended the year with a 66.6 percent completion percentage.

With 2022-2023 being his sophomore season, he will be back at USC, which is huge. All the other Heisman finalists: Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, and TCU’s Max Duggan, are all off to the NFL draft. That makes Willams the only player from the Heisman ceremony still playing college football.

As for Rice, son of legendary NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice, he is in line to take over as the go-to receiving threat for the Trojans. In their first year playing together, Williams connected with Rice 39 times for 611 yards and four touchdowns. And the duo saved their best game together for last. In USC’s Cotton Bowl matchup against Tulane, Willams found Rice six times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. If these two can pick up where they last left off, the Trojans shouldn’t have too much trouble living up to Rice’s expectations.