USC vs. media bias and SEC hypocrisy shapes college football perceptions

How USC is discussed in the national media matters. There are legitimate aspects to point at that require improvement, as is the case for any program in the nation. To go a step further and disingenuously make statements and to pretend certain things are the case when they simply are not is where the issues begin to take place.

For years, the SEC has artificially inflated its position and perception in the sport. Particularly on the recruiting trail, it is known that schools were offering money well before NIL and that they were doing it at a significantly higher rate and in a much more organized manner compared to teams in other conferences.

So for coach Kirby Smart to be 'warning' about the potential effects of NIL is laughable at face value. The playing field is simply more level in that regard. In terms of an aspect that USC can offer regardless of what the rules dictate, it is that it is a top school in the nation with a tremendous alumni base and national connections.

With the rules now allowing entities such as collectives to now grant opportunities for today's student-athletes, the SEC is only lamenting the fact that they are losing grasp of this huge advantage that they have grown accustomed to for decades.

False narrative against USC area of recruiting is baseless

Moving on to On3, in an excerpt that was shared by the Founders Edits X account, they believe that SoCal talent just is not up to par with the rest of the country. Ignoring how any site that claims to be something of an authority on the sport could legitimately believe that, it only further shows why narratives matter.

Fortunately, while preseason can be a time to create narratives and attempt to project what is about to take place, every theory is tested, and the results on the field indicate whether a claim had a basis or not.

For the current and future USC players, seeing their abilities dismissed out of hand should light a fire and further provide motivation to prove that the Trojans are back.