USC knows finishing in the top 12 this year is the goal

Lincoln Riley’s first two USC football teams have fallen short of a championship. In 2022, USC lost twice to Utah, including a 47-24 loss in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans then lost to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

In 2023, USC started the season 6-0, but lost five out of its last seven games in the regular season. A 42-28 win over Louisville in the Holiday Bowl put them at 8-5, a worst-ever finish for Riley as a head coach.

Miller Moss now gets his chance to be the starting quarterback for the Trojans. Given Lincoln Riley’s track record of producing Heisman winners (three) and No. 1 overall picks (three), Moss is in line to inherit an offense that is renowned for producing QBs the NFL loves. Riley also brought in transfer Jayden Maiava, who passed for 3,085 yards with 17 TDs and 10 INTs while leading UNLV to its most wins in a season since 1984 last year. Neither quarterback screams College Football Playoff for a program that has never made the playoff, even though this 12-team format will give USC its best opportunity to make one. The Trojans must remember they have Zachariah Branch on their side. He should be featured in running, catching and returning in 2024.

USC plays one of the toughest schedules in the sport this year. The Trojans’ 2024 schedule includes nine teams that were ranked in 2023 and 11 that won at least one game against a ranked opponent.

[Check out RJ Young’s full ultimate 134 college football rankings here]. Unlike the two main preseason polls, Young did put USC inside the top 20. However, the real goal for USC is the top 12, because that means a playoff berth is coming to Troy this year.

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