Right message is flowing through USC at the moment in an encouraging sign

There is a clear shift in tone throughout the USC program heading into the 2025 season. Compared to past recent seasons, the Trojan players and staff appear more focused and wanting to earn a top spot in college football. While this is often the case among teams, particularly heading into August, USC at the moment is also taking the necessary action to back up the words, putting them in a position to bring their positive utterances into fruition.

Listening to this team, the energy is far from that of a program that feels entitled or one that feels like an impossible task is ahead. Instead, there is a strong optimistic belief that USC can achieve something special. This is being paired, though, with the knowledge of the work that needs to be continued to be put in and the fact that past losses resulted from a play here or there that can be corrected now with the right preparation during the summer.

This is part of the challenge for coach Lincoln Riley. A team needs to mentally be in a flow state. On the one hand, the obstacles ahead cannot be viewed as so difficult that the motivation is lacking for someone to want to truly put their best foot forward. By the same token, there cannot be an assumed sense of accomplishment or that they are already good enough, as that leads to a lack of focus and not continuing to put in the back work.

Looking at what is currently happening at USC

So far, through the Big Ten and USC Media Days, this Trojan team appears to have a healthy balance of both. The only other aspect that can then further solidify these words will, of course, be on the field. Winning reinforced everything. That is something, though, that obviously cannot be assessed at the moment, so it does little good to expect USC to be able to potentially prove any naysayers wrong via wins in July and August.

Getting to the point in which the wins come, however, is something that USC fans should be enjoying at the moment.