Joel Klatt explains why he has confidence in USC during Big Ten debut season

USC isn’t slipping under Joel Klatt’s radar. On Monday, the FOX Sports analyst revealed his expectations for the Trojans in the 2024 campaign.

“I’m bullish on USC. I want to plant the flag in the preseason for USC. I think they’re going to be better than most people believe this season,” Klatt said. “Lincoln Riley is going to have an excellent year. I think that they’re going to take the Big Ten, and it’s going to be difficult for some of those defenses to face this offense.

“Their defense should be better. Their offense should be the same. That’s what we can come to expect, at least I do, which means USC is a threat, just not the biggest threat, certainly to Ohio State and Oregon.”

It won’t be easy for USC to live up to Klatt’s hype. For the first time in two seasons, former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams won’t start behind center for USC. Instead, redshirt junior Miller Moss or UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava will attempt to lead the Trojans.

Maiva has more experience. He was the full-time starter at UNLV last season, tallying 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air, along with 277 yards and three scores in the ground game. However, Moss has spent three seasons at USC and is intimately familiar with head coach Lincoln Riley’s offensive system.

Moss showed off his comfort with Riley’s schemes in USC’s win over Louisville in the Holiday Bowl last year. In his lone start of the season, Moss erupted for 372 passing yards and six touchdowns, the most TD passes ever thrown by a USC QB is his first Trojan start.

Although Williams won’t be back in 2024, USC returned several experienced players during the offseason. Wide receivers Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch, who combined for 671 receiving yards and four scores last year, are returning.

USC emphasizing defense in the offseason

USC also returned cornerstone players on all three levels of its defense, headlined by defensive tackle Bear Alexander, linebacker Eric Gentry and defensive back Akili Arnold.

USC also overhauled its defensive coaching staff. D’Anton Lynn will take over as defensive coordinator after leading UCLA from 87th in total defense to 11th in just one year.

Additionally, former FCS North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz will serve as the linebackers coach, former Super Bowl-winner Eric Henderson as the defensive line coach and former Houston DC Doug Belk as the secondary coach.

USC will kick off its 2024 season in a showdown against LSU at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 1. The game will be broadcast on ABC.