USC has been moved up to #1 on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early preseason top 25 because of how USC’s recruiting class faired and according to Mark Schlabach from ESPN, he believes that USC has a sure shot chance this season at competing for a National Championship:
“They better do it this coming season, because the effects of NCAA sanctions and scholarship reductions will start being felt in 2013,” Schlabach wrote. “Even with a smaller recruiting class, USC coach Lane Kiffin was able to add some much-needed help with linebacker Jabari Ruffin and receiver Nelson Agholor. The Trojans were one of the country’s younger teams this past season, with 10 freshmen and sophomores starting. The Trojans will play six home games and six road games this season, including a Sept. 15 road trip to Stanford and a Nov. 3 home game against Oregon.”
Following the Trojans in the rankings were Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
The Trojans visiting Stanford should be a marquee game for both teams as USC
finally looks to topple a Luck-less Cardinal team in Palo Alto. USC has not beaten the
Cardinal in four years.
Nov. 3 should prove to be one for the ages as USC and Oregon look to give the
world a preview of what could possibly the Pac 12 Championship game and the
front-runner to appear in the BCS National Championship game. Oregon will look to
avenge their loss to USC in 2011, which ended in a missed field goal that could have
sent the game into overtime. The Ducks turned red hot in the 4th quarter of that
game. Should the game have gone into overtime the out come could have turned
different for the Trojans.
USC also has Arizona St. at home next season and should be in pretty good position to overcome and claim revenge against a rebuilding Sun Devil team with newly hired coach Todd Graham.
In total the Trojans 2012 schedule includes visits at home from Hawaii, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona St., and Notre Dame. On the road the Trojans face Syracuse, Stanford, Utah, Washington, Arizona, and UCLA.
USC starts spring practice on March 6th.
Here’s a video of some clips of the Trojans having fun during last seasons games while we wait to see how spring ball unfolds:
Video copyright and courtesy of USCAthletics http://www.usctrojans.com/blog/
