JD PicKell: Setting realistic expectations for USC in 2022

After a 4-8 season in 2021, USC underwent multiple changes and is back in the national spotlight. But what should reasonable expectations be for the Trojans as the Lincoln Riley era gets going?

On3’s J.D. PicKell set his bar — and despite the early success in transforming the roster, this is only the beginning.

The Trojans not only brought in Riley from Oklahoma, but also have a four of the top 40 transfer portal prospects coming in, according to the 2021 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. Quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Jordan Addison are the two biggest additions, coming in at No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings.

But PicKell argued the upgrades might not be enough to get USC into the College Football Playoff. At least, not yet.

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“When we talk about expectations for USC, there’s a lot of people in the national scene that throw out there, ‘Man, with all the talent, they’re a Playoff team,'” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “I don’t know if that’s really fair to say. That’s like looking at … a car with a shiny coat of paint and seeing the logo on it and little do you know, it hasn’t even hit the road yet. It’s still new. It’s still a new car. It takes some time to get some tread on the tires, get that engine revved up. These things take a second and a half to get going, [similar] to the other USC at South Carolina. These things build. They don’t just happen overnight.

“So, I steer a little more clear from the College Football Playoff predictions and truthfully, so do the USC fans. They’re not expecting to make the College Football Playoff in year one under Lincoln Riley. They’re not expecting to go out there and just run the table and, voila, boom, year one. Thanks a lot, transfer portal. They were 4-8 a year ago. The USC faithful, the fans that really love this program, just want to get back to square one, just want to get back to being the USC in the Pac-12 that they know and love. … If it’s not College Football Playoff in year one, that makes sense. We just want to be respectable, put a good product out there and do what we’re capable of doing.”

JD PicKell: USC could have a shot at making the Pac-12 Championship

Even though he doesn’t think USC will make the CFP, PicKell said a Pac-12 Championship appearance can’t be ruled out. However, he’s not ready to predict a victory yet. It’s only August, after all.

“I think this year in itself, my [expectation] for USC is a Pac-12 title game appearance,” PicKell said. “Do they win it? Gosh, how can we predict that in August and we’re talking about a game that’s going to happen [in] November, December? That’s not something that we need to talk about right now.

“But to be in that game in year one under Lincoln Riley would be a great accomplishment. I think they’re probably flirting with that 9.5 win total. I don’t know if they pass it or where they end up in relation to that, but they’re flirting with it. Rest assured.”