Fears of USC losing current commits with underwheling 2025 season are overstated

There are many, including among USC fans, who are not at all moved by the Trojans' ability to garner the top recruiting classes for 2026 and 2027 at this point. Any number of excuses and reasons are given. Dismissing what should be seen as a universal positive has involved using the quantity argument. In the opinion of some, the classes are only up so high because of the sheer numbers.

Never mind that many of the commits are objectively being underrated right now by the recruiting services. It should also be added that the bulk of the commitments are consensus four-stars.

The main point of concern among skeptics is the lack of recent success in Troy. While the wins and losses aspect of this is an entirely different discussion, the argument does have a direct connection.

It is believed that if USC has a bad 2025, the commits will be discouraged and opt to decommit and look for a different school to have a better chance of winning.

For some, that could very well end up being the case. On the other hand, it is public knowledge at this point that the Trojans have not performed at the needed level in recent memory. This is not suddenly a new finding that will catch any of the future Trojans by surprise.

Instead, coach Lincoln Riley and the staff are embracing the facts. They are positioning everyone in the program, both current and future Trojans, to have the approach of doing everything possible to get things back on track.

If the season goes well, great. The incoming freshman can be part of the process that continues to keep things progressing in the right direction. If it doesn't, it has been known all along that this would be a possibility. Part of the player's desire to join USC is to be the catalyst and help the Trojans earn a championship.

In that scenario, the incoming USC members would be emboldened to be part of the cast that brought the immediately needed winning ways back to Troy. They have already experienced what things are like for USC without their being in the natty discussion. These players will know better than anyone (they grew up hearing about the Trojan glory days) what it would mean for them personally if they ended up being seen as the immediate cause for the turnaround at USC.

Legwork from USC staff has focused on players ready to be Trojans

Setting that aspect aside, a football program truly does not want someone who will only join with everything firing on all cylinders. Deadweight can sink even the most unsinkable ships.

Assuming the doom scenario of a series of decommitments comes true, then so be it. Best of luck to everyone looking for greener pastures moving forward. If this spring and summer have shown anything, this coach Riley staff has the ability to find players that they have full faith and confidence in. And it is because of this reason and the already established relationship that even in the event of a 2025 season that doesn't meet the mark, most, if not all, current USC commits will still end up coming to campus. They already know what they signed up for and are genuinely excited to be a part of the process.