New "Inside the Trojans' Huddle" (Tues./June 13) edition: Analyzing USC's 2024-25 Big Ten schedules, USC/UCLA Big Ten schedules comparison, non-conference scheduling, huge recruiting weekend, Prep Super League, and more

In Tuesday’s edition of Inside the Trojans’ Huddle, panelists Mark Kulkin, Erik McKinney, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz give their thoughts and analysis on the recently released 2024/ 2025 Big Ten schedule and how it affects USC; Big Ten Trojans/Bruins schedule comparison; USC non-conference scheduling; upcoming recruiting weekend; new Prep Super League; viewers’ questions and panel answers; and much more. 

In the first half of the Huddle, the panel gives their thoughts and opinions on USC’s 2024 Big Ten and overall schedule, which includes four conference home and five conference away games in addition to the three non-conference games: LSU, San Jose State, and Notre Dame. The LSU game will be played in a neutral field while both the SJS and the ND games will be played in the Coliseum.

The first half of the Huddle schedule discussion continues with the Trojans’ 2025 schedule that will feature five Big Ten Conference games in the Coliseum and four on the road. The Trojans non-league games include home games with Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss and Clay Helton’s Georgia Southern in the Coli. The panel brings up the ironic return of two former USC coaches that were fired. You don’t think that Arledge didn’t have fun with that?  

Halftime brings some quick-hitting questions. Will Lincoln Riley head to the 2024 transfer portal for another quarterback if Caleb Williams does the expected and applies for the 2024 NFL draft? Katz has thoughts on the topic. Should the Trojans load up on lower-level competition in non-conference games, mainly teams like San Jose State, Nevada, and Georgia Southern? Naturally Arledge has his perspective bringing back Clay Helton to the Coliseum in 2025.

The second half previews next weekend’s monster gathering of high-valued high school recruits to campus. Many are household names in the Trojans’ recruiting world, and they include both national and local blue-chippers. Last spring, this Riley template of bringing in a massive chunk of his recruiting wish list was wildly successful, and the panel gives its preview of what to expect next weekend. Hear what recruiting gurus McKinney and Kulkin have to say regarding this weekend’s recruiting lollapalooza.

Adding a little fantasy to the recruiting section, each panelist is asked if they were an out-of-state recruit, besides the USC campus and the Coliseum what would they like to see on their official recruiting visit? You may or may not be shocked on the various answers.

Concluding the second half, the panel takes a look into the pros and cons of the new Prep Super League, which will play 11-on-11 of tackle football next spring with these “all-star” teams of underclass prep talent representing 12 cities across the country. Basically, the Prep Super League are traveling teams and are the equivalent to spring traveling team basketball teams. Will this league succeed or fail? How will high school coaches feel about this. Where does the financial backing come from? The panel is near unanimous whether this new concept will be a success or a failure.   

In Overtime, panelists give answers to viewers’ questions pertaining to stocking talent on a team; qualities for a coach to get better at his craft; 7-on-7 competition helping or hurting in evaluating high school prospects; the effect on recruits of USC joining the Big Ten; a Penn State white-out game; the IRS and NIL collective; adjusting to the Big Ten in 2024; and concern about the Trojans landing enough 5-star linemen on offense and defense heading into the Big Ten.