Big Ten Media Days poll picks USC to finish 9th in conference

Firstly, even if USC was the unanimous number one consensus choice among all media outlets in the universe, it wouldn't mean all too much until the games themselves actually started. That being said, these sorts of things serve as a gauge for what the wider audience as a whole feels in terms of the pulse of the current state of college football.

It also, more importantly, gives the current perceived outlook of the Trojans. This is something that can affect recruiting and the reputation of the program.

Cleveland.com was the organizing entity that polled writers from across all teams in the Big Ten. During the week of Big Ten Media Days, the outlet released its findings, and USC is sitting in ninth. There is an argument to be made that this isn't too much of a slight when considering how good the Big Ten actually is, without feeling the need to also constantly pound its chest, unlike the SEC.

Still, considering this could very well be a nine-plus-win Trojan team, nine feels a little low.

It also needs to be added that each team has a noticeable flaw (or two) and/or question mark heading into the season that won't be fully known until the ball gets snapped.

Having Penn State and Ohio State at the top makes all the sense in the world. And while the Buckeyes will have an unproven quarterback at this level in Julian Sayin, the way in which coach Ryan Day replaced all of the talent that left from their championship run speaks to just how good this roster is. The Nittany Lions have experience and cohesion and the right positions. For them, it will be a question of seeing how coach James Franklin handles the big moments.

Questions remain with Illinois and Oregon, but those are also two schools where there shouldn't necessarily be too much outrage over the Trojans being lower than them. Legitimate arguments could be made, however, suggesting otherwise.

The questions start to come in with Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, and Michigan.

It remains to be seen whether the Hoosiers' run last year was a one-off. The Hawkeyes and Wolverines are going to be limited at QB, and the rest of the roster may not be good enough to make up for it in the event of their person under center not being above average. Then the Huskers and Trojans are programs that can be viewed in a similar light.

Where USC should actually be

Both programs think they have the right guy in charge, but they need to show the next step in their coaching progression at their current stop.

USC should realistically be fifth, maybe sixth, when looking at the improvements that have gone on this past offseason and the element of some added stability compared to some of those other teams ahead of them.

For now, it will be up to the Trojans to take matters into their own hands on the field.