Paul Finebaum weighs in on USC, answers whether Trojans are contender or pretender

Through four games, the Lincoln Riley era at USC is off to a great start. The Trojans have opened 4-0 with a Top-20 offense and a Top-30 defense. They have started 2-0 in Pac-12 play as well after this weekend’s close encounter with Oregon State. While some are still hesitant on putting USC amongst the elite yet, Paul Finebaum has come around on the Trojans amidst their start.

Finebaum broke down USC’s College Football Playoff chances in an appearance on ‘Keyshawn, JWill & Max’. He said the Trojan’s 2022 campaign will now come down to their matchups with Utah and Notre Dame with both games, specifically their games against the Utes, set to determine their fate.

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“I don’t care what happened the other night (at Oregon State). USC is down to about a two game season and they are a legitimate show to make the playoff. I didn’t believe that before the season. There was no reason to believe it. It felt like a lot of Hollywood hype, but it’s real,” said Finebaum. “Should they be able to negotiate this game against Utah in a few weeks, which will be extraordinarily difficult, I think they have a very good chance of making the playoff.”

Finebaum felt like one of the biggest knocks on Riley so far was that he was still being measured up by Oklahoma. The two programs will be linked all season long because of the way Riley left Norman. However, the Sooners slipped up this weekend with a loss to Kansas State. With that in mind, the comparison stops there for Finebaum.

“One thing you have to look at with USC is I think there’s a lot of comparison going on,” Finebaum said. “What’s happening at Oklahoma? What’s happening in Southern California? Because Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma and everybody in Norman said Brent Venables will blow Lincoln Riley away. Well, he lost the other day at home to Kansas State so forget that conversation.”

Being in the Pac-12 can sometimes mean limited opportunities to make statements. Still, the Trojans have already made an early season statement with their start. They will also have their chance to make two more as the year goes on. It may take an unblemished record, or at least no more than one loss, but Riley is already delivering on his promises to get the Trojans back to where they want to be.