USC Among Top 10 in Preseason College Football Coaches Poll
It’s beginning to look a lot like college football. The 2023 preseason college football coaches poll was released on Monday and the USC Trojans will begin the season firmly inside the top 10 teams in the country. USC comes in at No. 6 in the first coaches poll of the season.
The Trojans are the top-ranked Pac-12 team in the preseason poll. USC is likely to have one of the most explosive offenses in the country in head coach Lincoln Riley’s second season with the program. The Trojans welcome back 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at quarterback. He’s joined by offensive linemen Justin Dedich and Jonah Monheim, running back Austin Jones and wide receivers Brenden Rice, Mario Williams and Tahj Washington.
The offense is bolstered by an impactful group of transfers that includes wide receiver Dorian Singer, running back MarShawn Lloyd and a trio of offensive linemen. True freshman Zachariah Branch is one to watch as well.
But it’s the USC defense that needs to pull its weight if the Trojans are to remain in the top 10 all season. All-American safety Calen Bullock is back. And a full return to health for linebacker Eric Gentry will be key. But transfers are likely to shape the top of the depth chart at several positions, and notably along the defensive front. Defensive linemen Bear Alexander, Kyon Barrs and Jack Sullivan will be charged with bolstering the defensive line. Rush end Anthony Lucas has the look of a potential All-Conference player after coming over from Texas A&M. And Georgia State transfer Jamil Muhammad could be impactful up front as well.
2023 Preseason Coaches Poll
USC will play four teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 and another two that received votes in this poll.
Top 10
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The UGA coach is going to regret this
- 2
Herbie backs Ducks
Kirk Herbstreit message to Oregon, Ohio State
- 3
Referee hospitalized
Boise State-Hawaii ref taken off field by ambulance
- 4
Spitting ejection
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1. Georgia (61 first place votes)
2. Michigan
3. Alabama (4)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Tennessee
11. Washington
12. Texas
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. TCU
17. Kansas State
18. Oregon State
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Wisconsin
22. Ole Miss
23. Tulane
24. Texas Tech
25. Texas A&M
Others receiving votes: Iowa 169, South Carolina 89, Florida 63, Texas-San Antonio 59, Pittsburgh 52, UCLA 42, Kentucky 34, Baylor 28, Troy 25, Arkansas 20, NC State 19, Fresno State 19, Boise State 18, Auburn 18, Minnesota 16, Miami 16, Mississippi State 13, Oklahoma State 12, Missouri 11, Maryland 10, SMU 8, South Alabama 8, Illinois 7, Wake Forest 6, Air Force 6, Toledo 5, Washington State 4, Houston 3, Duke 2, BYU 2, Arizona 2, Memphis 1, Kansas 1, James Madison 1.
USC in the 2022 Coaches Poll
USC started last season at No. 15 in the preseason coaches poll. The Trojans moved into the top 10 at No. 8 in the Week 3 poll. USC eventually moved all the way to No. 4 in the Week 14 poll, heading into the conference championship games. A loss to Utah knocked USC back to No. 8. Then a loss to Tulane in the Trojans’ bowl game landed them at No. 13 in the final poll.
USC finished the 2022 season as the No. 3 team in the Pac-12. Washington led the way as the nation’s No. 8 team. Utah finished the season No. 11 in the country.
