Caleb Williams’ decision means USC should win the Pac-12 in 2022

USC has won one Pac-12 title since 2008, and quarterback Caleb Williams’ decision to become a Trojan on Tuesday means USC will be the favorite to win the league in 2022.

Now, USC being the favorite to win the league isn’t anything new. But actually winning it is different, and the arrival of Williams and coach Lincoln Riley should mean that happens.

Williams is the latest in a line of transfers who should make an immediate impact for USC this fall. Running backs Travis Dye (Oregon) and Austin Jones (Stanford), wide receivers Terrell Bynum (Washington), Brenden Rice (Colorado) and Mario Williams (Oklahoma) and offensive tackle Bobby Haskins (Virginia) are starting-caliber offensive players.

While Caleb Williams is the headliner, followed by Dye, who is the fifth-leading rusher in Oregon history, don’t overlook Haskins. He was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Cavaliers; he started in 2019, battled an injury in 2020, then regained his starting job for the pass-happy Cavs in 2021. USC’s offensive line play has been — to be kind — inconsistent of late, and the addition of an experienced player like Haskins is a boon even if he’s not necessarily an all-league guy.

Plus, there’s no reason to think the Trojans are done in the transfer portal. USC also has added four defensive players via transfer, though the star power on that side doesn’t come close to equaling it on the offensive side. USC figures to be on the lookout for a few more defensive players and at least one more offensive lineman in the portal, and there will be additional portal entrants after spring practices end. And Riley’s offense will be a selling point for offensive linemen: Oklahoma has had six offensive linemen taken in the past four drafts.

USC’s defense figures to be an issue in 2022, but it’s not as if Riley hasn’t coached teams with high-powered offenses and mediocre defenses. And that came in the Big 12, which was better than the Pac-12 the whole time Riley was at Oklahoma.

The competition is another reason Caleb Williams’ addition means USC will be favored. UCLA and Utah figure to be the other “good” teams in 2022 in the Pac-12 South, while Oregon will be the North Division favorite. Utah will be more physical than USC, should have a notably better defense and returns quarterback Cameron Rising and running back Tavion Thomas. UCLA returns Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who will be in his fifth season as Chip Kelly’s starting quarterback. Oregon still has a lot of talent, though transfer quarterback Bo Nix has a lot to prove. But Riley is a proven high-level coach who is going to have — at the least — an offense with a bunch of high-level playmakers. There’s a good chance that even if USC’s defense is mediocre, the Trojans simply should be able to outscore their Pac-12 brethren.

USC will lose a few games. But the early bet here is the Trojans’ won’t lose more league games than anyone else.