USC Trojans football 2024 game-by-game predictions

The 2024 USC football season is right around the corner and it feels like this could be the biggest season of Lincoln Riley's career as a head coach. While no one is suggesting USC will fire him if he doesn't reach the College Football Playoff, there's no question that his team must show massive signs of improvement over last season, especially on defense.

What's more, this fall will take the Trojans through their first Big Ten season, something that will be fascinating to witness as years of wide-open play in the PAC-12 gives way to smash-mouth football when facing new conference foes who want to turn the game into a rock fight. Will Riley and USC, two football entities known for flash and finesse be able to adjust to that?

The good news is that Riley has a track record that suggests he will improve upon the career-low eight wins that he captured last season. In fact, in five of his seven seasons as a college head coach, he's won ten games or more.

On the other hand, life in the Big Ten is going to be far more challenging for USC than it was in the PAC-12 (even though that PAC-12 was one of the strongest conferences in the country a season ago.) What's more, the 2024 USC schedule is vastly tougher than what Riley faced in the Big 12 as head coach of Oklahoma where his team had a talent advantage over every team in the league but perhaps Texas.

So let's do our best to try to predict how 2024 will shake out for the Trojans. Here are our preseason game-by-game predictions.

USC vs. LSU (L)

The good news is that USC will have a shot to make some serious noise right out of the gates this year. The bad news is that it will require a neutral-site victory over LSU in Las Vegas. That won't be easy.

However, just like USC, LSU has to adjust to life without a star QB in 2024 as last year's Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is now in the NFL. In his place steps Garrett Nussmeier, who has been waiting for three years for his opportunity to start for the Tigers.

Also like USC, LSU enters 2024 needing to fix a poor defense from 2023. Last year, the Tigers gave up 416.6 yards per game.

This game will come down to a flip of the coin. In the end, the Tigers will pull out a close win to open the season thanks to a dominant offensive line and the fact that their QB is just a bit more seasoned than Miller Moss.

USC vs. Utah State (W)

After a tough opener, USC gets to return home in game two to face perhaps the team in the most turmoil in America, Utah State. In July, the Aggies fired head coach Blake Anderson and elevated DC Nate Dreiling to interim head coach. That's no recipe for success.

Last year, Utah State was No. 123 nationally in points allowed. That's not likely to improve much this year and the talented Trojan offense should feast on the Aggie defense. This game should be a blowout for the home team and an opportunity to get the second and third-team guys some work.

USC @ Michigan (L)

USC's second opportunity to make some national news in game three by going on the road and taking down Michigan in the team's first-ever Big Ten game. That's going to be easier said than done, though.

Michigan won't be as good as it was last year. In fact, after losing its starting QB, starting running back, its entire offensive line, its top two receivers, and its head coach, there are serious questions to answer in Ann Arbor. Thus, the Wolverines are a candidate to take a step back in 2024 and they could be a candidate to be upset by the Trojans.

The Michigan defense will be stout again, though with long-time NFL defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale as the coordinator this year. That and the fact that this game will be played in "The Big House" will be just a bit too much for USC to overcome.

USC vs. Wisconsin (W)

Wisconsin is a program trying to transition from decades of being a ground-and-pound offense to a pass-happy system under head coach Luke Fickell. That didn't go so well in a 7-6 2023 that saw the Badgers score just over 23 points per game.

This year, they hope that talented Miami transfer QB Tyler Van Dyke will infuse some firepower into their passing attack. On the other side of the ball, they have bet heavily on the transfer portal to patch up a defense that lost some key contributors after ranking No. 20 nationally in points allowed last year (20.2).

In the end, USC will have too much firepower for Wisconsin to keep up with. Riley's offense will be more explosive and efficient than Wisconsin's and the Trojans will pick up their first Big Ten victory.

USC @ Minnesota (W)

Not too much is expected of Minnesota in 2023. However, given that they host the Trojans one week before USC welcomes Penn State to L.A. they could spring a trap in game five.

Last year, the Golden Gophers went just 6-7. However, they return 13 starters as they look to get back on the winning track.

Minnesota will be relying on FCS QB transfer Max Brosmer to lead their offense. That's not necessarily a foolproof plan.

Look for USC's massive talent edge to overwhelm Minnesota in this game. A rowdy home crowd might help the Gophers keep it close but USC will pull away in the end.

USC vs. Penn State (W)

October 12 is shaping up to be the best weekend of the college football season and one of the marquee games that day is Penn State visiting USC. That will be a can't-miss affair in the Coliseum.

Yes, Penn State will open the season as a top-10 program. But does anyone really buy the Nittany Lions as a national contender after years of coming up short in big games under James Franklin?

This feels like another game where Penn State will spit the bit when everyone in America is watching to see if they can finally win a marquee game. USC being at home will tip the scales here and the Trojans will secure a win over what will likely be a top-ten team.

USC @ Maryland (W)

Another USC opponent that has to replace a star QB from 2023 is Maryland. Without Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terrapins could take a step back on offense and be far less explosive this year even though there are some solid wide receivers still on the roster.

On defense, Maryland returns five starters in the front seven where they should be solid. However, the secondary is reshuffled and could be suspect. That's not good when trying to stop a receiver group as talented as USC's should be.

One factor to consider in this game is that it will be a cross-country trip for the Trojans. If this game kicks off early, could the time adjustment be an issue for the Trojans' body clocks? It is possible. However, USC will be the more talented team in this matchup and if the Trojans can put forth their best effort, they should not stumble as they run their winning streak to four games.

USC vs. Rutgers (W)

Many people think Rutgers could put forth a really good team this year. Part of that is because they have only one preseason top-25 team on the schedule, and that, of course, is USC.

The Scarlet Knights will test USC's run defense. Last year, they ran the ball eighth-most in the country in terms of percentage. What's more, Kyle Monangai who led the Big Ten in rushing in 2023, is back for another season.

With that said, Rutgers won't have the athletes required to bully the Trojans at the line of scrimmage. Nor will they be able to score enough points to keep pace with USC in L.A. Though this could be an unexpectedly interesting matchup, in the end, the Trojans will come out on top.

USC @ Washington (W)

One of this season's swing games arrives when USC travels to Washington in a Big Ten matchup of old PAC-12 schools. This trip is usually a tough one for the Trojans but this year, Washington should take a step back.

Having lost their head coach, starting quarterback, top three wide receivers, and all of their offensive line from 2023's dynamic offense, the Huskies could be in for a rebuild this fall.

However, on defense, they return quite a bit of talent and they have hired former NFL defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to be their coordinator. Still, the Huskies don't have the look of a Big Ten contender this year and USC will take care of business when this rivalry is renewed in its new conference.

USC vs. Nebraska (W)

Nebraska's Matt Rhule is known for turning around downtrodden college programs. Last year, in his Nebraska debut, he managed to lead the Cornhuskers to just a 5-7 record, though.

This year, he's likely going to depend on freshman QB Dylan Raiola to bring some punch to an offense that struggled mightily in 2023. Will the 5-star signee be able to make an immediate splash in the Big Ten?

If this game were to be played in Lincoln, Nebraska, it might be a toss up. But the rebuilding Huskers aren't ready to go on the road and upset a team as solid as USC just yet. USC will march to another win as they remain one of the hottest teams in the nation.

USC @ UCLA (W)

Speaking of teams in transition, UCLA fits that description after 2023 head coach Chip Kelly skipped town to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State this offseason. Now, first-time head coach DeShaun Foster, a Bruin alum, will have his hands full trying to develop a new identity with his alma mater.

At O.C. for the Bruins will be long-time NFL coordinator Eric Bieniemy who could bring a schematic advantage to the program. However, he won't have a very dynamic passing attack with QB Ethan Garbers ( who had only 1,136 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023).

Also, in the two previous games, UCLA will face Iowa and Washington, two typically physical programs. That could mean that the Bruins will be a bit worn out when this cross-town rivalry is played. Of course, last season, UCLA stunned the Trojans in the Coliseum so this year, Lincoln Riley's squad should be fully prepared and motivated when this game arrives. Look for USC to get their revenge this time around.

USC vs. Notre Dame (L)

By the time USC and Notre Dame end the regular season in L.A., these teams will be vastly different than what we assume they will be right now. Thus, picking this rivalry game is tough as it will essentially be a toss-up.

New Notre Dame O.C. Mike Denbrock will rely on Duke transfer QB Riley Leonard to bring more play-making to his offense. Meanwhile, an Irish defense that was top ten in the nation last year could be even better this year. In fact, some think Notre Dame will have the top defense in America this year.

Because no one knows what to expect of the USC defense right now, it is hard to pick the Trojans to beat the Irish, even in L.A. However, if that side of the ball is a strength for USC in 2024, then they could easily hang with the Irish. But until we see that happen, Notre Dame has to be the pick to win this game right now.