USC ranked No. 6 in the 2023 Preseason AP Poll
The USC Trojans will officially start the 2023 college football season as the No. 6 team in the nation. The 2023 preseason AP poll was released on Monday and the Trojans landed in the same spot they did in the preseason coaches poll.
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 AP Poll
USC will play four teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 and another that received votes in this poll. Washington is a top-10 preseason team, starting the year at No. 10. Notre Dame, Utah and Oregon are in the exact same places as they are in the coaches poll, at Nos. 13, 14 and 15. UCLA received enough votes to come in as the No. 28 team in the nation.
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1. Georgia (60 first place votes)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Washington
11. Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. Kansas State
17. TCU
18. Oregon State
19. Wisconsin
20. Oklahoma
21. North Carolina
22. Ole Miss
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Iowa
Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.
USC in the 2022 AP Poll
USC started last season at No. 14 in the preseason AP poll. The Trojans moved into the top 10 at No. 10 following the first game of the season. USC never dropped below No. 12 from that point, hitting that mark following the regular season loss to Utah and the bowl game loss to Tulane. The Trojans reached all the way to No. 4 heading into the Pac-12 championship game. It was the highest USC had been ranked in the AP poll since also hitting No. 4 in Week 3 of the 2017 season. The Trojans haven’t been higher than No. 4 in the AP poll since the final poll of the 2016 season, when USC was No. 3.
