College football recruiting insider predicts multiple USC losses and no playoffs in 2024

Carter Bahns has released his predictions for Big Ten college football teams in 2024. The 247Sports recruiting insider predicts USC will finish with an 8-4 record, including a 6-3 finish in conference games. Of course, barring chaos, a four-loss season will leave the Trojans outside the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The optimistic fans will scoff at Bahns' prediction on the assumption Lincoln Riley's program fixes its defense. Conversely, the fans grounded in likelihood will understand Bahns' reasoning. Indeed, the Trojans are coming off a 7-5 season and will feature a new starting quarterback, defensive coaching staff, and defensive scheme.

Another consideration is the brutal schedule that lies ahead for the men of Troy.

After reviewing USC's 2024 slate, we assume Bahns thinks the Trojans will lose their Week 1 neutral site matchup with the LSU Tigers. Regarding the three Big Ten losses, it's plausible that Bahns thinks USC will lose games to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State. If such comes reality, we're staring down a 1-3 start to the 2024 season.

A 1-3 start to the season will drive USC fans insane. Conversely, in such a scenario, the Trojans win their games against Washington, Nebraska, UCLA, and Notre Dame. Perhaps a strong finish to the season will put fans at ease.

No Trojan fans want to consider the potential of a 1-3 start to the new college football season. However, we must consider the circumstances surrounding Troy at this time. There's a ton of confidence in Miller Moss's ability to lead the offense in Caleb Williams's absence. But few programs can overhaul their defense and expect immediate results.

We think the Trojans' defense will show improvements in 2024, but the talent on the defensive line and linebacking corps remains lacking robust elite talent. Thus, it's plausible that most of USC's losses occur earlier in the season when coaches and players adjust, and the competition is stiff.

Either way, we'll remain on the lookout for USC football predictions from more college football insiders. We're curious how Bahns' Big Ten outlook differs from industry colleagues, if at all.