2022 USC Outlook

The 2022 USC Trojans are looking to make a splash in the PAC 12 and put themselves right in the middle of the College Football Playoff conversation. With help from new head coach, Lincoln Riley and an abundance of transfers, they will take a massive step forward as they begin preparation for the Big 10 Conference.

The Trojans have largely been irrelevant in college football since they lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 2017 season. Since that game, the Trojans have gone 21-21 over the next four seasons and only appeared in one bowl game in which they lost to Iowa, 49-21. Not to mention in 2021, their worst outing of the four years where they finished 4-8 and allowed 31.8 points a game. On top of the atrocious defensive play, the USC offense wasn't much better. USC scored 28.6 points a game and accumulated 443.6 total yards a game (312. Passing and 145.3 rushing). However, we believe the future looks bright for the USC football program as they aim to return to the top of college football. With the recent hire of Lincoln Riley, USC has set themselves up for offensive success, most of being within the 2022 football season. Something else to consider is when Riley came to USC, he managed to get a few of his players from Oklahoma to follow him. These players are Caleb Williams and Mario Williams. Caleb, played the second half of the season at OU, managed to put up 1,912 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns through 7 ½ games. Which is almost as much as 2021 starter Kedon Slovis who had 2,153 yards passing and 11 passing touchdowns. Mario came to USC leaving behind a place where he was the second leading wide receiver only behind Marvin Mims. Mario led OU in kick return yards per game with 108 total. Along with these two excellent additions to the Trojan offense, Lincoln Riley also managed to grab Travis Dye, a running back who was 5th on Oregon’s all-time rushing list, as well as Austin Jones from Stanford, who averaged 4.2 yards a game in 2021. The final major transfer that Coach Riley was able to land, would come from the Pittsburgh’s Biletnikoff winner, Jordan Addison. In his 2021 campaign, Addison put up 1,593 Reception yards and 17 touchdowns as well as 185 punt return yards. It's safe to say that Lincoln Riley has built a monster with the skill positions in his offense; however, if Lincoln Riley wants to be successful with this offense and be able to run the ball (which will set up his air raid offense that he likes to run) then he will need to have a better offensive line than USC had in 2021. If we can't see progress from the O-Line in 2022, then the Trojans will likely have trouble with the likes of Utah, Oregon, and Notre Dame.

Now on the defensive side of the ball, Alex Grinch has lots of work to do if he wants to make USC a contender in the PAC 12 (as well as a playoff contender). Grinch can achieve a good defense in 2022 with help from veteran and transfer players. Let's start up front for the Trojans: On the D-Line, USC has Tuli Tuipulotu, a junior who in 2021 led the team in sacks and forced fumbles. On the opposite side is Nick Figueroa, who should add speed to the edge and be able to rush opposing QB’s. Also, incoming cornerback transfer Mekhi Blackmon from Colorado and Latrell McCuthcin from Oklahoma. Along with these two veteran players, we also see transfers Tyrone Taleni, from Kansas State and Earl Barquet Jr., from TCU. Both of these players look forward to competing for the starting jobs and add depth to the USC D-Line. The linebacker unit for the Trojans is filled with transfers in Romello Height out of Auburn, Shane Lee from Alabama (who started all of 13 games with the Tide), and Eric Gentry from Arizona State (a freshman All-American in 2021). USC now looks at their own returning players from 2021 including: former No. 1 recruit, Korey Foreman who looks to have a breakout year under Coach Alex Grinch. In secondary, Grinch and DB’s coach Donte Williams, have to clean up the mess that was USC’s secondary in 2021. The Trojans finished 119th in pass efficiency defense last season, they also allowed the opposing QBs to complete 65.3% of their passes. Grinch and Williams have set up building blocks in veteran safeties Xavior Alford, who led the team in interceptions (3) and Calen Bullock, a 2021 freshman All-American. Then 5-star Domani Jackson and freshman Prophet Brown and Ceyair Wright who will look to add to the talent in secondary. Grinch has pieces in place to make them contenders right away, the question now is, can he develop the talent and make them championship contenders year in year out?

My prediction for the 2022 USC Trojans is to go 10-2 playing Utah in the PAC 12 Championship. Lincoln Riley managed to take a basically defenseless Oklahoma to 4 straight Big 12 titles and three straight CFP appearances.

I expect him to do the same with the Trojans, likely not in year one; however, they will have an excellent year in a weak PAC 12. The only real competition the Trojans should face in conference play will be October 15, when they have to travel to Salt Lake City facing the Utah Utes. Truthfully, I expect them to lose there and to their non-conference rival Notre Dame as well. Even with these two losses, they will compete again with the Utes in the PAC 12 Championship; however, I do expect them to lose yet again much like Oregon did in 2021.