Greg McElroy Reveals How USC Can Avoid Major Pitfall This Season With Four-Game Stretch

As they move on from the Pac-12 into the Big Ten this season, USC football is trying to find themselves. After all, the team is in a bit of a transition year not just in conference but in their roster as well.

The Trojans return seven starters from last year's team: three from the offense and four from the defense. But those losses are notable. Gone are former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and his top targets in Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice.

Plus, no matter who is left over from the defense, there's still the problem of having to fix that side of the ball, which has been atrocious over the last two seasons.

Last season, the Trojans' defense was ranked 118th in scoring and 116th in total defense.

So, yeah, that's what they're bringing to the Big Ten, a conference that now moves to an 18-team membership, adding fellow former Pac-12 partners Washington, UCLA, and Oregon.

That means that USC must navigate through a much different schedule in terms of opponents and travel this season. Attempting to dissect their 2024 schedule was college football analyst Greg McElroy while on his show Always Football .

McElroy believes that the Trojans will really prove themselves in their new conference play this season in the month of October, during a four-game stretch when they face Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland, and Rutgers.

“I think the second part of the schedule for [USC] is more manageable than even the first month of the season,” McElroy said. “In October, you have at Minnesota. That’s a game you can absolutely win and, hopefully for [USC] fans, you do win. You got Penn State at your place. That’s a game that I think can be won. I would lean Penn State at the moment, but I think that is a game that can absolutely be won. You’re at Maryland — going to be a tough road trip, for sure, but one that can be won without question. Rutgers comes to you — another game that can be won.”

What makes those October games significant is that they fall between the Trojans' first and second bye weeks this season that occur on Sept. 14, after Utah State, and then again on Nov. 9, after the game at Washington.

“Those, to me? October is going to define USC’s season because there are winnable games on that part of the schedule,” McElroy said.

It's likely USC will need these bye weeks after their first four games of the season. In the opener, they'll face off against LSU in a neutral site game in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. They'll have a little bit of a break with Utah State the next week, plus the bye before going to Michigan and then hosting Wisconsin at home to end the month of September.

“Here’s where I’m at right now. How likely is it that USC will be 3-1? I feel like, if they’re 3-1, that’s like an incredibly good start to the season. That means you beat either Michigan at Michigan or LSU in Las Vegas,” McElroy said. “Either one of those two wins is massive for Lincoln Riley. Now, if he wins one of the two? You’re in great shape. If you lose them both? I don’t even think your season is over.”

Given that the College Football Playoff has expanded to a 12-team field, teams can now afford losses more than before, especially in the Big Ten, that will likely receive more lenience from the playoff committee.

USC might take a few lumps as they transition into their new conference home, but that doesn't mean they'll be eliminated from playoff contention should they lose one or two games early. They can likely have a strong October and on and receive a playoff spot.