Ultimate USC goal of a national title will be possible with current and future corps

In recent years at USC, during the coach Clay Helton seasons, for example, and since coach Riley's first year with the Trojans, it hasn't been good enough. A lot of that does have to do with the butterfly effect of the sanctions. Many are overlooking the significance and continued impact of what the NCAA purposely did to the program.

Even so, in terms of aspects that USC could control, the internal workings of the program weren't at the needed levels for the historic standard that the Trojans have rightly set for themselves.

After some reflection and acknowledgment, Coach Riley is correcting course and doing what needs to happen at USC now. The goal is to win a national championship and to always be a legitimate part of the preseason discussions. When talking heads and panels give their projections and picks to make the college football playoffs and go on a run, USC needs to be among the teams that are listed each time. That is something, however, that will have to be earned. The shortcomings and bad seasons have left too much of a lingering effect on many, where some even inaccurately questioned the Blue Blood status of the program.

While not entertaining the all-time significance of the program any further, what they should show is just how much of a drop-off there has been in football over the years.

For many, there is a genuine sense of belief with this current Trojan staff. The changes have been occurring for a while now, but many are pointing to the arrival of GM Chad Bowden as something of the moment that indicates the needed shift throughout the program. Again, the steps being taken that have resulted in USC doing well in recruiting, for instance, have been underway since before then. It does show an effort that has been put into overdrive since Bowden's departure from Notre Dame.

This year's USC team deserves a fresh start

2025 is a new season. The past feelings and shortcomings cannot be forgotten, but this corps cannot be asked to shoulder the entire burden of responsibility for those past seasons in question. Coach Riley may have been in Los Angeles for a minute; many of these players have not.

Even from last season, this was a Trojan team that was playing catch-up anyway while navigating the new home in the Big 10. It may continue to not look pretty. Although it may be frustrating to hear, rest assured their return to Trojan prominence will be here soon enough. In the meantime, the 20205 team deserves a degree of latitude and the chance to showcase how far the program has come in its own right at USC.