Latest update speaks to improvement that has taken place at USC

Saturday is shaping up to be an interesting matchup for USC. The latest AP Top 25 Poll saw the Trojans rise a couple of spots. Entering the Michigan State game, USC was ranked 25th. Now heading into the Illinois matchup, they are ranked 21st.

Some of the inconsistencies continue to baffle college football fans when it comes to which teams are placed where by the voters. It is still significant that a Trojan team that started out the year unranked continues to find itself in a comfortable position in the rankings.

It is also safe to say that a win against Illinois would propel USC into the top 20. This is particularly true with the game being a real road test in the Big Ten.

This USC offense is good enough to execute and win a shootout against any team in the nation at any given time.

On defense, the pass rush can equally get home on any given play. It is not quite to this extent, but the line is close to being able to force a team to become one-dimensional.

When considering the nature and prevalence of the run game and stable of running backs at the disposal of coach Lincoln Riley, the offense will be good enough in most games to be able to hide any deficiencies that are currently seen by the defense at this point in time.

Difficult slate ahead for USC

With the toughest part of the schedule set to take place, any questions remaining about this team will soon be answered. So far, though, although some aspects such as penalties continue to frustrate fans, there are more things to be encouraged by and to look forward to than not.

USC may have started the season flying under the radar on a national scale, but they are quickly making believers of even the most staunch critics of the program.