CFP Top 25 Countdown: No Caleb, No Problem for No. 17 USC Trojans

· Aug 08 - 6 minutes read

USC needs to replace former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams but shoring up the defense might be even more important.
USC is just 2-6 in its last eight games against ranked opponents.
Quarterback Miller Moss looks to build on impressive bowl game performance.
Check out the reasons why USC is at No. 17 in the BetUS list of the Top 25 college football teams in 2024.

It was an offseason of change for USC as former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, leading rusher Marshawn Lloyd, top receivers Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice as well as safety Calen Bullock all headed to the NFL while the Trojans left the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten. Miller Moss had one of the two games for USC in 2023 with six touchdown passes.

2024 College Football Odds: USC is 17th in Top 25 Countdown — Miller Moss #7 of the Usc Trojans / Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via Afp

that 7️⃣ to 🔟 connection 🎯✌️ pic.twitter.com/sYau8iivh7

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) August 4, 2024

USC was picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten and the Trojans look to defy the college football odds even while dealing with a challenging schedule.

The 2023 season started off with such promise. Williams was the front-runner to win a second straight Heisman Trophy and when the Trojans topped a nationally ranked Arizona team, the Trojans were sitting pretty at 6-0. They would lose five of the last six regular-season games.

The sportsbook odds have the Trojans fifth at +2200 in the odds of winning the Big Ten title. USC will not face Big Ten favorite Ohio State during the regular season but will face Penn State and Michigan. The Trojans are 6½-point underdogs against LSU in the Sept. 1 season opener at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

USC has +400 odds of making the College Football Playoffs with +8000 odds of winning the national title.

USC Trojans at a Glance

2023 record: 8-5
2023 Pac-12 record: 5-4
Head coach: Lincoln Riley
Odds to win Big Ten title: +2200

Will Defensive Changes Help USC Thrive in the Big Ten?

With Lincoln Riley calling the shots, offense is usually not the issue. The defense, however, kept the Trojans from competing for the title in their final Pac-12 season.

The Trojans ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense a season ago. No Pac-12 team allowed more opposing plays from scrimmage of at least 50 yards than USC in 2023.

There were major changes in the coaching staff, with former UCLA offensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn taking the same job with the Trojans. North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz will coach the linebackers. They have their work cut out for them considering that Southern California allowed 41.6 points in the five losses last season.

UCLA safety Kamari Ramsey, Oregon State linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nate Arnold and Oregon State safety Akili Arnold are transfers who could make an immediate impact on defense.

Leading tackler Mason Cobb, defensive backs Jaylin Smith and Bryson Shaw, defensive end Jamil Muhammad and defensive tackle Bear Alexander lead the list of returnees on defense.

The Trojans had a top-20 recruiting class with offensive lineman Jason Zandamela and edge rusher Kameryn Fountain both being top-60 recruits.

Mississippi State running back Woody Marks, UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava and Tufts receiver Jaden Richardson are key additions on offense.

Not all the transfer news was encouraging. Offensive lineman Jason Zandamela, cornerback Domani Jackson, linebacker Tackett Curtis, edge rusher Korey Foreman and receivers Dorian Singer and Mario Williams all transferred elsewhere.

Center Jonah Monheim may be the best player for the Trojans while Miller Moss completed 71% of his passes with seven touchdowns and one interception in limited action behind Williams at quarterback. He threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in the bowl win against Louisville. He is currently at +3500 in the Heisman Trophy odds.

QB Miller Moss and his center Jonah Monheim #USC pic.twitter.com/3110Mu2SBR

— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) August 3, 2024

Keep an eye on Zachariah Branch as he returned both a kickoff and punt for a touchdown last season.

Take A Look At These Other 2 NCAAF Special Articles

USC 2024 Betting Outlook

As if playing in the Big Ten isn’t challenging enough, the Trojans open the season against a strong LSU team while the first Big Ten game comes against defending national champion Michigan.

USC has lost six of its last eight games against ranked teams in 2023. With games against Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State and LSU, the Trojans have matchups with four of the top 12 teams in the first American Football Coaches Association poll of the season.

USC covered in just two of seven home games in 2023 and was last in the Pac-12 by covering in just four games. USC was 2-4 against the spread as a home favorite. The Trojans did lead the conference with 10 games landing over the total. The college football spread has USC as an underdog in three of its first six games. Road games against Washington and UCLA could be tricky as well.

USC is priced at -105 to go over 7½ wins in the regular season.

Not facing Ohio State and Oregon could help USC in its first season in the Big Ten. A season like the one that the Trojans just struggled through might be enough for Riley to listen to the offers from NFL teams.