No. 6 Oregon | No. 8 Michigan State | Top 25
No. 7: USC
Last Season: 9-4 (6-3 Pac-12 South)
Embracing expectations
Excuse time is over at the Coliseum, and Steve Sarkisian knows it. So is the get-to-know-me period. The coach's fifth go-round with the Trojans, but first as head coach, stuttered its way to a 9-4 record, two of those losses coming on the final play of the game. USC frequently ran out of steam -- it was outscored 86-72 in the fourth quarter -- a fact that was written off to an adjustment to Sark's new systems and the last lingering effects of NCAA restrictions that kept their on-scholarship roster to well below the standard 85. But that cloud has finally blown out of SoCal, replaced by a full complement of scholarships, a top-two recruiting class, and 15 returning starters, including quarterback Cody Kessler, who hurled 39 TD passes last season while running for his life (USC allowed 32 sacks). "I didn't come here to be OK or come here to be mediocre," explains Sarkisian, who admits he still hasn't won over the fan base. But he also says he knows the solution to that issue. "We came here to win championships." -- Ryan McGee
USC fans, rejoice at last! The NCAA sanctions are over-and I predict the Trojans will make the playoff. While they won't be at 85 scholarship players, they'll have many more than the 50 who suited up for a 45-42 Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska. Along with improved depth, USC boasts elite talent in Heisman front-runner Cody Kessler (39 passing TDs in '14, No. 4 in the FBS) and the Pac-12's No. 1 O-line, D-line, LBs and DBs. I rate USC's schedule as the second toughest, behind only Alabama, but have the Trojans as 'dogs only at Oregon (+3).
IN IF...
Kessler matches one of the most underhyped TD-INT ratios I can recall (39-5) and wins at Notre Dame and Oregon-which might allow a one-loss USC to ride in without a Pac-12 title.
OUT IF...
The Trojans can't avoid injuries, especially on a D-line that loses DE Leonard Williams (80 tackles, seven sacks). Besides trips to ND and Oregon, Sept. 26 at ASU could be a trap after Stanford.
USC's chances to win each game
09.05 Arkansas State: 91.7%
09.12 Idaho: 99.5%
09.19 Stanford: 64.0%
09.26 @ Arizona State: 55.0%
10.08 Washington: 88.7%
10.17 @ Notre Dame: 50.4%
10.24 Utah: 79.9%
10.31 @ California: 66.8%%
11.07 Arizona: 76.1%
11.13 @ Colorado: 85.1%
11.21 @ Oregon: 38.7%*
11.28 UCLA: 57.4%
*BROCK HUARD, ESPN analyst: USC would prefer to play this one way earlier, but if near full strength, QB/OL/DL/LB all favor the men of Troy, who didn't lose a Heisman winner.
SHARON KATZ, ESPN Stats & Info: It's tough to outgun the Ducks in Eugene (40-3 since '09). Even at a neutral site, SC (No. 18 D) would have only a 46 percent shot vs. Oregon (No. 4 O).
We'll really get a handle on the Trojans early in the year when they face Stanford and travel to ASU in consecutive weeks. Like Oregon, it will be tough for any Pac-12 team to run the table, let alone a team from the South. Coming away 9-3 with that schedule might not please fans who are thinking playoff, but it would still be a pretty solid season. -- Kevin Gemmell
The Trojans have an arsenal of weapons but as their road loss to Boston College showed us last year, USC is immune to nothing. The Trojans will suffer a late loss to Oregon, putting USC at an 11-1 record heading into a rematch with the Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game. -- Chantel Jennings
The Trojans have headline-grabbing firepower that's working behind a veteran offensive line, always a desirable combination. But replacing the likes of defensive lineman Leonard Williams and running back Buck Allen, the league leader in all-purpose yards who brought vital stability to the offense, will be a challenge in the rugged Pac-12 South. I see USC finishing 8-4. -- David Lombardi
Led by QB Cody Kessler, USC's roster features intriguing across-the-board talent, but the reason to believe the Trojans are ready to return to the national picture is better depth as they move past NCAA sanctions. A stout O-line and talented secondary is reason to believe the Trojans might emerge from the rugged South Division at 10-2. -- Ted Miller
No. 6 Oregon | No. 8 Michigan State | Top 25
