USC Football Roundup: Las Vegas Bowl upgraded and more (6/7)

The Las Vegas Bowl tie-in for the Pac-12 is getting an upgrade while the Trojans have one of the most intriguing rematches of 2018. Here’s the USC football roundup for June 7.

The opening of Las Vegas as a sports destination has created an interesting wrinkle for the Pac-12’s bowl tie-ins.

The conference currently has a tie-in with the Mountain West to play in the Vegas Bowl, but that is due to change. In 2020, the Vegas Bowl will look to matchup a Pac-12 team with a Power 5 opponent, according to Brett McMurphy.

The draw of Las Vegas’ new NFL stadium will be great, according to the report, perhaps enough to entice the SEC to take on the Pac-12 in the annual bowl game in Sin City.

Of course, USC will always strive to end the season at the Rose Bowl or in the playoff, but the prospect of landing in the Vegas Bowl would certainly be more enticing with a potentially juicy matchup against the SEC on the cards.

Most anticipated rematches

USC vs. Texas is Bleacher Report’s sixth-most anticipated rematch for the 2018 season. Why wouldn’t it be? The Trojans and Longhorns have intriguing history and played a thrilling overtime game at the Coliseum last year settled only by a field goal.

There are plenty of storylines for each team as well, particularly when it comes to the sidelines. Is Tom Herman the real deal? Will Year 2 right the ship in the way Year 1 didn’t? For that matter, is Clay Helton the real deal? Can he elevate the Trojans into the national picture? Or will a slip up in Austin spell the beginning of his demise?

CHECK OUT: Five reasons to be optimistic about 2018

It’s no surprise battles between Auburn, Alabama and Georgia rank ahead of USC-Texas on the rematch scale. Still, when it comes to USC and Texas, all things seem possible, from floor to ceiling. That’s what makes it all so intriguing.

Palmer to the Hall?

Gabe Salgado of Athlon Sports listed the five players on the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame ballot who should be inducted and Carson Palmer got a nod.

The Trojan quarterback is seen as the second-most deserving player on the ballot behind only Vince Young of Texas.

Pac-12 Projections

Athlon Sports also laid down their Pac-12 projections on Thursday, predicting a South Division title for the Trojans, but a Pac-12 title game loss to Washington.

More interestingly, the panel voted Cameron Smith the preseason Defensive Player of the Year and JT Daniels the Top Freshman.

TRENDING: Ranking the 10 best USC defensive backs ever

USC also features heavily in their unit rankings, though perhaps not as high as overall team talent should indicate. The Trojan linebackers top the conference while the defensive line rates second behind Washington. Wide receivers, offensive line and defensive backs rank third and running backs rank fourth.

Today’s Trojan Trivia

USc had five games decided by three points or less in 2010, a first for the program.