USC Football Ranked No. 17 In Preseason Coaches Poll

USC football debuted at No. 17 in the preseason Amway USA Today coaches poll Thursday, as the second-highest ranked Pac-12 team.

USC football begins fall camp with a No. 17 ranking in the Amway USC Today coaches poll, and plenty of potential to rise or fall from that place.

The Trojans finished the 2015 season outside of the rankings, though receiving two votes, after a loss to Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl.

The aim this season is to better that mark despite the nation’s toughest schedule. Six of USC’s opponents for the 2016 appear in the preseason Top 25.

The Trojans will face the No. 1 team in the coaches poll on September 3 when they take on Alabama in the Advocare Classic. The Tide garnered 55 first place votes.

Two weeks later USC will face the preseason No. 7 team in Stanford.

USC rival Notre Dame also appears in the Top 10, checking in at No. 9.

Other ranked opposition for the Trojans include No. 18 Washington, No. 22 Oregon and No. 24 UCLA. Utah and Arizona both received votes but did not make the ranking.

Setting a ranking for USC this season is a difficult decision. The Trojans have unquestioned talent, with top recruiting classes and stars on both sides of the field. However, inconsistency and question marks around the coaching staff have tempered expectations.

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Though it is widely agreed that cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tackle Zach Banner are among the best players in the nation, USC enters the season replacing six starters across the front seven on defense.

The Trojans will also be led by a first-time head coach in Clay Helton and a first-time offensive coordinator in Tee Martin.

Naturally there is equal parts potential and skepticism surrounding USC as the 2016 season nears.

With the AP poll due out soon, a ranking in the late teens can also be expected.

The coaches poll is comprised of 64 head coaches, including USC’s Helton. Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, Washington State’s Mike Leach, Washington’s Chris Petersen, Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham also have votes.