Ivan Maisel reveals how long it will take for USC to become finished product

On3’s Ivan Maisel joined JD PicKell on The Hard Count to tackle a few questions about the Pac-12 conference heading into 2022. One of the questions the host had for the college football expert was how long does he expect it to take for the USC Trojans to become a finished product.

USC has a ton of hype around them heading into the upcoming season, especially after hiring college football offensive guru Lincoln Riley as their new head coach. And not to mention the serious haul of talent they acquired courtesy of the transfer portal. But how long will it take until USC reminds us of the Trojans of the past? According to Maisel, fans better put a pot of coffee on because it’s going to be a while.

“If you look at what they were to what we expect them to be, I think it’ll take a couple of years. If you look at what they were the last four years, when they were 22-21, I think there’ll be a lot better,” said Maisel. “You know the talent upgrade has been significant. I still have questions about whether they’re going to be able to block somebody, to keep all that offensive skill upright. But they’ll be better. It’s just, I think to get to great, it’ll take a couple of years.”

Despite Maisel’s take, many are riding with the Trojans to come out top in the Pac-12 this season and make it to the College Football Playoff. But the question to answer then will be, once they get there, will Riley’s Trojan resemble the Oklahoma teams that have made the CFP in the past, going 0-4? Or can the USC head man Finally get over the hump and deliver a national championship to Southern California?

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JD PicKell: Transfers gelling is key to USC offense in 2022

The USC Trojans are a trendy pick to win the Pac 12 and possibly make it into the 2022 College Football Playoff, and for a good reason. USC was a major player in the transfer portal this offseason pulling in the nation’s top transfer quarterback, Caleb Williams, and top receiver, Jordan Addison. And while this stockpile of talent may be great, On3’s JD PicKell believes that the road to the Pac 12 title lies with the Trojans transfers gelling early in the season.

“Finally, it’s been no secret that USC was a big-time player when it came to the transfer portal. Like you name it, they probably got them in LA,” said PicKell. “Jordan Addison: Biletnikoff Award winner, Travis Dye: over 1,000-yard rusher, Mario Williams followed him from Oklahoma. There’s so many guys they got via the portal, and that’s great. Talent is never a bad thing, but to be able to put these pieces together that’s what I’m watching. They have a lot of key guys at key positions. Guys they can’t just throw out there and have it work day one.”