ESPN identifies best, worst case scenarios for USC in 2023

USC was exactly what many people thought they’d be in Lincoln Riley’s first season in Los Angeles. The Trojans posted one of the nation’s best offenses led by QB Caleb Williams, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. However, they couldn’t get over the hump to the College Football Playoff in large part due to a defense that cost them when it counted most.

Now, heading into year two for the Riley-Williams duo in Hollywood, what are the expectations this time? They may have opened at No. 6 in the AP Preseason Top-25 but, in the end, what’s the ceiling and the floor for USC in 2023?

In a recent article that analyzed each Top-25 team’s best and worst-case scenarios, ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti answered that question for the Trojans. As far as their best-case scenario, he believes contention, in the Pac-12 and nationally, is on the table again. That’s considering what they brought back talent-wise and their desire to make up for falling short last fall.

“Every player and coach at USC this season knows what they have on paper,” Uggetti wrote. “Most importantly, (they have) the motivation of coming up just short of a playoff spot. There’s no doubt USC has the talent and ability to not just make the playoff but compete for a title. Plenty of things have to go right. But that’s what the Trojans’ ceiling looks like in Riley’s second year on the job.”

“Improvement isn’t always linear but USC has the players to prove it can be,” added Uggetti.

With an average of 41.4 points per game, the Trojans won all but one game in the regular season. However, the postseason wasn’t too kind to them. First, Utah bludgeoned them in the Pac-12 Championship to take their playoff spot. Tulane then hung 46 on them to come back in dramatic fashion in the Cotton Bowl.

2022 was a fantastic season for USC but, to be fair, they ended up leaving a lot on the table. That’s why, considering the schedule is harder in 2023, Uggetti isn’t too sure they’ll be that much better record-wise. As far as a worst-case scenario, all he’s willing to bet on is that they’ll at least be in Las Vegas again to compete for the conference crown in their final year in the league.

“It’s not easy turning around a 4-8 season into a 10-3 year. What may be harder is improving upon that in the following year. That’s what Riley and USC have to deal with this season on top of a schedule that includes Notre Dame and Oregon on the road as well as Utah, Washington, and UCLA over the last six weeks of the season,” wrote Uggetti. “All of that being said, it’s hard to see a floor lower than competing for the Pac-12 title. The Trojans are too talented, on offense especially, to not be in every game they play.”

The expectations will be high in LA for USC to compete at the highest level before Williams goes pro. In order to do so, though, it’s up to them to hunker down on defense, especially since their offense will almost always be enough, in order to make it back for more shots in the postseason.