Recent past unsuccessful USC seasons are skewing current outlook

Blindly looking at how teams have done in past years is an incomplete outlook, particularly when it comes to any preseason poll. USC is unranked as things stand at the moment.

An important aspect that needs to hold more weight during this portion of the season when evaluating teams needs to include the factor of roster carryover from the past season.

Especially when it comes to the quarterback's relationship with the wide receiver corps, having continuity and not needing as much time to develop chemistry and continuity can often serve as a great advantage heading into a season.

Jayden Maiava not only has two highly talented wideouts, in Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon, but the end of the 2024 season essentially functions as an extension of the current season to come.

Looking then at the pieces on defense, such as Kamari Ramsey and Eric Gentry, there are a lot of good signs from last year's roster at important positions who will have a significant impact for the Trojans in 2025.

At this point, previously held preconceptions regarding this USC team from some of the more recent seasons that have ended in disappointment are the reason as to why the Trojans are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the AP Top 25 rankings, for example.

Full potential of USC

It has to also be added, though, that many around the country have also noticed how the program has improved under coach Lincoln Riley.

Soon enough, either the expectations will be shown to be flatly wrong or those having USC outside of the Top 25 will be proven correct.

When looking at how USC has improved and the areas in which many of the players are returning, the safer bet would be for USC to ultimately end up ranked and have a significantly better season than what many are anticipating.