New “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle” (Tuesday, Nov. 28) edition: 2023 Offensive and defensive analysis, Final Pac-12 standings, Big Ten Lightning Round, and viewers’ Q&A, and conference championship game predictions.

Pregame      

In Tuesday’s edition of “Inside the Trojans Huddle,” panelists Marc Kulkin, Erik McKinney, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz review and analyze the 2023 USC regular season offense and defense, 2023 Final Pac-12 regular season standings, a new Big Ten Lightning Round, viewers’ questions, and predictions on this weekend’s conference championship games.

First Quarter

In the first quarter of the Huddle, the panel gives a frank and direct review of the 2023 regular season offense under head coach and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. The panel gives the positives and the negatives of the offense’s performance. What did the panel see as the strengths of the 2023 offense, and where did it fall short – some way short of reaching the expectations? The panel was in agreement in one specific area and was took it to task. Where did the panel see the need to make the 2024 offense better, especially with the anticipated departure of All-America quarterback Caleb Williams?    

Second Quarter

In the second quarter of the Huddle, the panel spared no mercy with perhaps USC’s worst defense in the history of the school, the 2023 unit. All the panelists gave some harsh criticism to both the coaching and, in some cases, the players’ performance on the field. As expected, Chris Arledge was up for task of addressing the performance of the 2023 defense, and its future needs in 2024.  Probably the most important segment of the second quarter was some discussion of the new defensive coordinator candidates for 2024. One area of discussion was the length of the new defensive coordinator’s contact. The panel chimed in with what they expect the new coordinator should be signed to, such as a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year contract, and the pros and cons of each.  

Halftime

The panel is asked to review the final Pac-12 regular season standings and were asked to name the most surprising team in the conference and the most disappointing team. Not overly shocking was that the panel had a basic agreement on both questions. The most surprising team named was not in the state of California. The same could not be said of the most disappointing team in the conference, which did come from the Golden State, and you don’t have to be Albert Einstein to figure out this answer.     

Third Quarter

In the third quarter, the panel gave their rapid responses to the Big Ten Lightning Round of questions. Some of the questions concerned Lincoln Riley potentially giving up his play-calling duties in 2024, picking a new DC from either college or the NFL, transfer portal quarterback possibility, Lincoln Riley’s quotes, and the anticipated date for the opening of the new football building before or during the  2026 season, roster losses on both sides of the ball, Marshaun Lloyd to the NFL, and USC’s bowl game assignment.   

The Big Ten bonus question: For holiday shopping, where does the panel plan on doing their shopping: Online or in stores? You may or may not be shocked at the individual panelist’s response.

Fourth Quarter

Following the lighting of the WeAreSC symbolic Coliseum torch between the third and fourth quarters of the Huddle, the panel leads off the fourth quarter by answering viewers’ questions.

Viewers’ questions addressed DC candidate Jim Leonhard, USC’s physicality, Riley not attending the CIF title game between Santa Ana Mater Dei/ Bellflower St. John Bosco, position coaches coming and going, the L.A. Bowl, considering a former NFL head coach as the new DC, NIL money and cash, and learning from physical teams like Michigan.  

Overtime

In the Overtime period, the panel makes their individual predictions regqrding this weekend’s conference championship games, which include the Pac-12 (Friday night), Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC.

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USC Trojans videos from Los Angeles, California, from the staff of WeAreSC.