Joel Klatt believes beating LSU gives USC a good chance at a playoff berth

Can USC play for a national title for the first time since Matt Leinart and Pete Carroll led the way in 2004? Colin Cowherd and Joel Klatt believe there’s a shot with the expanded playoff.

It’s no secret, Lincoln Riley’s second season with the Trojans wasn’t what folks had hoped, ending in a 7-5 regular season despite having the future No. 1 overall pick taking snaps. However, on a recent episode of The Herd, Cowherd and Klatt explained the path for the Trojans to establish themselves as a playoff contender early on in 2024.

“I actually say, to all those people that think USC is never going to turn it around, they only have to do one thing this year,” declared Cowherd. “If you look at their schedule. And you know what that one thing is — and it could propel them to the playoff. What is that one thing?”

Klatt came through with the answer: “If they can beat LSU in their opening week in Las Vegas.” He then went on to explain why victory is very attainable in that game.

“So, it’s a neutral site, more on the west coast. There’s going to be a lot of USC fans there. (This) LSU team is trying to replace Jayden Daniels, two first-round wide receivers, an OC, and their defense was terrible.”

Of course, “USC’s defense was terrible” as well, notes Klatt, which makes these programs very comparable in his eyes. “They are very similar programs right now, I would argue.”

LSU certainly wasn’t too far off from the playoff last year. Sure, they lost three games, but all to top 15 opponents and the score was very close in a couple of those. With them in rebuild mode, plus what the Trojans have on their roster, Klatt is optimistic USC can turn things around, starting with a head-to-head win over the Tigers.

“I think that you can make an argument that because of Lincoln Riley’s history and because of what Miller Moss did in the bowl game in the Holiday Bowl, and the skill position players that they have, like Zachariah Branch on the outside, with D’Anton Lynn coming in as the defensive coordinator — I’m bullish on USC. And I know that makes you really happy.”

Beyond LSU, Cowherd looks at a pretty friendly schedule for USC in terms of getting to the playoff: “Michigan’s a rebuild. They don’t play Ohio State or Oregon. And their Big Ten road games, there’s a lot of Rutgers in there.”

Klatt then came down with his ultimate declaration of soaring optimism in this USC group:

“If they beat LSU, then there’s a really good chance USC is going to the playoff. You go 9-3 in the Big Ten or SEC and you’re going.”