Highly favorable non-conference schedule needs to set USC up for Big Ten play

Getting off on the right foot can be night and day for a season. It isn't, of course, everything. After all, USC won the opener against LSU in Las Vegas last year, and Trojan fans saw how that season ended up unfolding.

For a team, however, that has a lot of naysayers and people only refusing to believe that the program is indeed improved when the results show. In order to avoid what would undoubtedly be a wall of entirely unwanted noise and media coverage, it will be essential for USC to take care of business in the non-conference schedule.

Particularly when looking at who USC has scheduled to start the 2025 season off with, there is not going to be too much room for wiggle room or a slow start. Unlike last year, the Trojans aren't facing an SEC opponent or a highly rated team from a different conference. Instead, the season will start off with Missouri State and Georgia Southern.

While the second game will come with its own reason for fixed attention, there would likely be little to zero forgiveness from the Trojan faithful if there is anything other than 2-0 once coach Clay Helton leaves the Coliseum on his return.

Even if one wants to pencil in the opening pair of games as wins, there is still a lot to be monitored during the opening weeks.

Important aspects to watch during USC's opening games

This team has to play complementary football across all three phases. There would not be any criticism whatsoever if USC were to run the ball on 80% of the snaps during the games against Missouri State and Georgia Southern.

Setting that fan dream aside, there are known aspects that will work against lesser-caliber opponents that will not translate against the Big Ten teams once the conference schedule begins. Playing well, therefore, and looking fundamentally sound early, while playing clean football, is something that will need to show up if the Trojans are to have the type of season that some of the more optimistic voices are expecting USC to have.