USC is starting to look like USC again, bringing program to the brink of success

College football is not ready for the return of USC to its full potential. While the SEC is claiming to no longer need the NCAA, the Trojans are looking more and more like what they did when coach Pete Carroll was in Los Angeles.

People may disagree on the merits of continuing the Notre Dame series. In truth, the schedule is packed and the difficulty is extremely high in the Big Ten with or without the Fighting Irish, and certainly more so compared to the teams in the conference that are expressing their desire to break away from the college system entirely.

Outside of that aspect, not to downplay the rivalry's importance, but it is a needed adjustment if ND is not willing to do their part and compromise to keep the annual game intact. This is a USC program that is returning to its roots.

Fans nowadays, especially the younger onlookers who are too young to remember when coach Carroll was around, are only starting to see a glimpse of what USC looks like and the power that can stem from within the Trojan program and tradition.

The 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes are starting to stack up talent throughout the roster, similar to when USC had two Heisman Trophy winners in the same QB room. While quarterback is, of course, always going to be the premium position of focus, those rosters were equally impressive throughout the depth chart on both sides of the ball.

Then, the Trojans had power in the areas where it mattered most. There has certainly been a shift toward more flashy, passing-oriented football over the years. Even so, what matters most at the end of the day is how a football team looks in the trenches and how they do in the run game.

LenDale White and Reggie Bush are forever enshrined in Trojan legacy for a reason. Defensively, there are many greats who made their presence known to the opposing offenses. Kenechi Udeze and Junior Seau made the other side pay for every yard that they gained. Troy Polamalu and Taylor Mays could then be seen making their impact from the secondary. And these are only some of the countless tremendous USC players from the past.

Blueprint for USC success being leaned in to

While other programs nowadays are worried about factors that are frankly outside of their control, the Trojans are doubling down on some of the time-proven aspects that served prior successful USC squads well.

It is unreasonable for anything to mirror something from over a decade plus ago exactly. Things do evolve, and modern twists ideally show a degree of improvement. Looking now at how this program is going about its business, coach Lincoln Riley appears to be learning lessons from older teams and using the good aspects from then to help shape how USC looks now.