Caleb Williams and the University of Southern California have seemed to hit a roadblock in their season. The USC Trojans’s who were a potential play off candidate last year have quickly fallen to number 24 in the recent AP polls, having suffered losses in their two previous games. One loss being to a good Notre Dame team led by Sam Hartman and the other being against the Utes of Utah.
Mid-season Hump
These losses have USC fans losing hope for the season and grasping to anything left that’ll boost their potential. Lincoln Riley states, “Definitely not a feeling that I want to get used to” in regard to their last loss on the 21st of October. This is a mid-season hump that the Trojans can potentially recover from. Suffering two losses will push them out of any playoff chance they were hoping for. Just because a playoff might be out of the picture, this can still be a good season for the Trojans.
Caleb William’s Leadership
Caleb Williams has been an impressive leader for the Southern California offense. Making the right reads and smart plays got him the Heisman last season. For Williams, this is looking to be his final year in college as he will likely be a high overall pick in the upcoming draft. Although this might be a defeating reality for Trojans fans, they must keep hopes high. With a coach like Riley, this team will likely have another star player on the ride after Williams’ departure.
Keeping Composure
USC finished in the top 15 last year and is more than capable of accomplishing that goal again this season. They do have some challenging games at home and on the road. Caleb Williams needs to keep composure and confidence high for these last four games of the season. Winning is something Williams is used to as long as he plays to his potential the Trojans should have no problem completing this mission. Leadership from Williams is vital to this team’s success as we have seen last season and so far this season.
Conference Competition
The next 3 out of 4 competitions are against top 25 teams. All of these games also come out of the PAC 12 conference as well. Winning is crucial if the Trojans want to compete in the PAC 12 championship this year. The PAC 12 is impressive this year with 6 teams in the top 25 up to this point. This gives Williams a chance to prove himself against tough competition to wrap up the season. Winning out at the end of the season will likely secure them a spot in the conference championship.
Penix Jr. & The Huskies
Michael Penix Jr and the Huskies will be a big challenge for the Trojans in the next two weeks. Not only are the Huskies a top 5 team right now, but they also have Heisman potential Penix Jr leading them in the quarterback position. He is a dangerous offensive threat for any opponent. Penix Jr is a nightmare for any defensive coordinator due to his dangerous accuracy displayed this season. Shutting him down will be the goal for the Trojans to ultimately pull out the victory.
Competition In Eugene
After the Huskies, the Trojans travel to Eugene Oregon to play the Ducks. Oregon has a high caliber team this year as well backed up by the talented Auburn transfer Bo Nix. Nix has looked unstoppable this season only falling short to Penix Jr and the Huskies. Not only will this be another challenging matchup ahead for Williams, but it is also on the road. If USC wants to win this one on the road, then Williams will have to be on top of his game and leadership. You can have a good game and stats, but without leadership the Trojans will have a hard time prevailing.
In State Rival
Their final game will be a good challenge against in state rival UCLA. This is an impressive Bruins team who has managed to put on a show for their fans this season. They are in the top 25 and look to make this another interesting match for the Trojans. Luckily for USC, this is a home game with homefield advantage which should be taken into consideration in favor of them. These final three games to close out the season will be a good challenge for head coach Lincoln Riley.
Criticism & Competition
Many college football fans are quick to criticize USC for lack of competition in regular season. The PAC 12 is typically not the place to find competition, but college football fans are quick to hold this belief over USC’s heads. While the statement may have some truth depending on who you are a fan of, one can’t deny that the PAC 12 has great competition in the 2023 football season. The next 3-4 weeks will determine a lot about where the Trojans will end up post season and in the polls. This team has potential to do great things as long as they don’t let these two games define them.
Discipline
Lincoln Riley has the opportunity to instill discipline in this team. This is the opportunity for this team to experience positive growth and team chemistry. Losses shouldn’t define you, but it will if you let it. If they let it define them it will be apparent in the next few weeks. With the talent on the team and coaching staff, anything is possible for the Trojans. Although the playoffs might be out of the picture, they can still finish the season strong.
Shaking Up CFB Playoffs
PAC 12 has compiled a good season with competition and teams this year. The Trojans can make it interesting if they choose to do so. With a win against Washington, they could potentially shake up the college football playoffs. Anything is possible with leadership and determination which is what Williams equips. Nothing is never over for the Trojans. Caleb Williams may be leaving but Lincoln Riley can get another guy to step up for this team. Recruitment is looking good and the next few seasons could be promising for this Trojan team.
