Three trap games USC football must be aware of 2024

The 2024 season is going to be an important one for Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans. In the third year of Riley's tenure, there must be signs that he has his program headed in the right direction after seeing his win total in 2023 drop to just eight after posting 11 wins in his debut season of 2022.

Of course, a great opportunity lies before USC as well thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP). This year, 12 teams will make the CFP meaning that USC doesn't have to be perfect if it wants to be invited to that party.

What's more, playing in the highly respected Big Ten will give the Trojans all the attention and esteem that they could ever hope to earn. That is, of course, assuming that USC will play well enough to be in the CFP conversation.

This year's schedule is daunting, though. Games against LSU, Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State, Washington, and Notre Dame will all be intense tests for Riley and his squad.

However, USC must also take care of business in games that the oddsmakers will install the Trojans as prohibitive favorites. Any hopes of a CFP birth have to rest on USC's ability to avoid the inexplicable upset so let's look at three trap games that the Trojans must be leery of in 2024.

Game two vs. Utah State

At first glance, this year's home opener against Utah State might seem like a walk in the park. After all, it pits one of the most successful programs in college football against one of the least successful.

What's more, Utah State is in a state of duress after having to fire head coach Blake Andersen in July after he allegedly mishandled a Title IX situation. Still, Utah State is a group-of-five program that has just enough fight in it to put a scare into a team like USC.

Remember, in 2013 the Aggies came to L.A. and nearly upset the Trojans in the fourth game of the season. That day, USC was out-hustled and pushed to the brink in a 17-14 win that felt almost like a loss.

This year, Utah State comes to town in the perfect spot to spring a trap. Sandwiched in between the season-opening game against LSU in Las Vegas and USC's trip to Michigan to take on the defending champions, might this game be overlooked by Riley's team?

Perhaps the fact that this is the season's first game at the Coliseum will be enough to keep USC focused. And likely, the Trojans will have enough talent to overwhelm the Aggies. Still, this has the feel of one of those early-season trap games that have caused so many good programs to stumble throughout the years.

Game five @ Minnesota

USC caught a break by not having to go to Minnesota in November when the weather could have played a huge factor. Still, the October 5th trip to Minneapolis is one that should scare USC fans.

Now, not much is expected of the Gophers this year. They were picked 13th in this Big Ten preseason poll and they are coming off of just a 6-7 campaign.

Still, P.J. Fleck is good enough as a head coach to get his team up for a visit from USC in front of what should be a packed house. What's more, the Gophers return 13 starters and are expected to be a bowl team this season so they'll be looking to boost their profile by scoring a win over a blue-blood program.

What might make the difference for Minnesota this season is the addition of QB Max Brosmer. Last year, he led the FCS in passing yards with 3,449 to go along with 29 TDs and only six interceptions.

This game is the classic trap game because it arrives one week prior to the October 12 visit to L.A. by Penn State. That means that USC will have to travel 2/3 of the way across America to face an underwhelming opponent all while trying to put the marquee showdown with Penn State out of mind. Thus, this game has "trap" written all over it.

Game 8 vs. Rutgers

Travel could also play a role in some USC home games this year. Such could be the case when Rutgers comes to Southern California on October 25.

While USC won't have to travel for this game, they will be coming off of a cross-country trip to face Maryland the week prior. Will that long journey to the East Coast and back take a toll on USC late in the season when players start to hit a wall? It is certainly possible.

What's more, Rutgers might be a sleeper in the Big Ten this year. In fact, ESPN's lead analyst, Kirk Herbstreit recently mentioned Rutgers as a possible surprise Big Ten team.

In 2023, the Scarlet Knights reached a bowl game for the first time in nine years. Now, they return most of their key contributors as they look to build on last season's momentum.

One week after this game, USC heads to Washington to take on last year's CFP runner up in a matchup that will hold some significance for both teams being that it will be a reunion of former PAC-12 rivals. Thus, the Trojans will have to go from Maryland, back to L.A. to face a sneaky Rutgers team, and then turn around and head to the Pacific Northwest to take on Washington. This is a tough stretch and the middle game at home against Rutgers could be dangerous.