The USC Trojans don’t get any respect. Is it okay? Who cares? The only thing that matters is that the Trojans need to earn respect before anyone else gives it to them. A recent example: The preseason edition of the US LBM Coaches Poll from USA TODAY Sports has USC at the bottom of the poll. The Trojans didn’t fall in when many other highly ranked programs face questions as strong if not worse than what USC football is dealing with. Without further ado, let’s give you a selection so you can get to know all the teams ranked ahead of USC. There are more than 20 of them.
1 – GEORGIA
Georgia didn’t make the playoffs last season and is expected to come roaring back with a big chip on its shoulder.
Follow the UGA Wire for more Georgia football news.
2 – Ohio STATE
Ohio State is loaded on defense. The Buckeyes made a big NIL investment to make sure they get over the hump, beat Michigan, and play in the national championship game.
Follow the Buckeyes Wire for more news.
3 – OREGON
Phil Knight’s investment along with Dan Lanning’s recruiting ability and overall program sales have given Oregon a top-ranked roster. The Ducks and Ohio State are the favorites in the Big Ten, ahead of USC.
Follow Ducks Wire for more news.
4 – TEXAS
Texas made the playoffs last year, but did not play in the SEC. This year will be an even bigger test for the Longhorns.
Follow the Longhorns Wire for full coverage.
5 – ALABAMA
Kalen DeBoer replaces Nick Saban at Alabama. DeBoer has been a very good hire and looks like he’s in top form, but getting the image back isn’t easy. We have to see DeBoer deliver in Tuscaloosa before we can be sure he’s ready to keep the Tide high in the SEC.
Follow the Roll Tide Wire for more news.
6 – REQUIRED
Lane Kiffin is trying to take Ole Miss to the playoffs, and to the SEC Championship Game. Ole Miss has not played in the SEC title game since the event’s inception in 1992.
7 – OUR WOMAN
Notre Dame enters the year with a top-10 ranking. It will be interesting to see where the Irish and USC are when they meet on Thanksgiving weekend.
Follow Fighting Irish Wire for more news.
8 – MICHIGAN
Michigan’s defense should be very good, but the offense is missing a lot of key players from the 2023 national championship roster. Sherrone Moore replaces Jim Harbaugh. This will be an interesting team to watch.
Follow the Wolverines Wire for more news.
9 – PENN STATE
USC faces Penn State on Oct. 12. Part of the Trojans’ full schedule this year. USC faces three of the top 10 teams in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and four of the top 12.
Follow the Nittany Lions Wire for more news.
10 – FLORIDA STATE
Florida State was wrongly eliminated from the 2023 playoffs. Let’s see what the Seminoles do in response this season.
Follow the FSU Wire for more news.
11 – MISSOURI
LSU faces USC on Sept. 1 Las Vegas. It’s a big game, and it’s a big chance for USC to make a big national statement right out of the gate. This is the most important game of USC’s season — not just because it’s the first, but because the win establishes the game as a possibility and changes the national narrative surrounding Lincoln Riley.
Follow the LSU Wire for more news.
13 – UTAH
USC is happy to see Utah go to the Big 12. The Utes used to wear USC, although two of the three games in recent years were very close.
14 – KELEMSON
Can Dabo Swinney win big without entering the transfer portal? It’s one of the biggest questions in college football in 2024.
Follow the Clemson Wire for more news.
15 – TENNESSEE
Tennessee was impressive in 2022 and regressed in 2023, as was USC. Could the Vols be back in 2024?
Follow the Vols Wire for more news.
16 – OKLAHOMA
When USC won 11 games in 2022, Oklahoma fans were very quiet. When USC lost five games in 2023, Oklahoma fans spoke volumes. What will 2024 bring?
Follow the Sooners Wire for more news.
17 – KANSAS STATE
Kansas State doesn’t get the big headlines but is still a great program all the time. It’s one of college football’s quieter success stories.
18 – OKLAHOMA STATE
No Texas, no Oklahoma in the new-look Big 12. It’s a big chance for Mike Gundy to win a conference title at Oklahoma State.
19 – MIAMI
We know that Mario Cristobal can hire. Can he train? This year is decisive in Coral Gables.
20 – TEXAS A\u0026amp;M
Texas A&M may have made the second best hire in the past coaching carousel with the hiring of Mike Elko. (Alabama recruit Kalen DeBoer at No. 1.) Let’s see if Elko can do what Jimbo Fisher couldn’t do in College Station.
Follow Aggies Wire for more news.
21 – ARIZONA
Arizona gave USC a tough time last season and ended up being a better team than the Trojans at the end of the season. Can the Wildcats win the Big 12 in their first year in the conference, with a new head coach (Brent Brennan) replacing Jedd Fisch?
22 – NC STATE
North Carolina State has never made a New Year’s Six bowl. Can the Wolfpack break through?
23 – USC
No. 23. That’s where USC is, below NC State and Miami and Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Kansas State. If the Trojans don’t have a lot of motivation to prove people wrong, something is different about Lincoln Riley’s program. USC has to be better than last year. Whether the Trojans can improve enough to make the playoffs — which they would if they didn’t go 10-2 or better — is the real question.
This article appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football does not enter the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
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