5 Surprise 2017 college football conference title contenders

Pac-12 – USC

2014 – Oregon
2015 – Stanford
2016 – Washington

This is the year the Trojans return! It’s almost impossible to shut out the deafening noise of the USC hype train rolling through the offseason. They are the de-facto Pac-12 champion pick in every preseason projection and water cooler debate, and for good reason. The Trojans enter 2017 with Heisman candidate quarterback Sam Darnold and a nine game winning streak.

Two of USC’s last four victories came against Pac-12 champion Washington and Big 10 champion Penn State. It’s hard not to believe that they’re prepared to take the next step in 2017 and win their conference.

Darnold won’t have to carry the offense alone. As for pass catches, he’ll have 4-star freshman receiver Joseph Lewis and returning junior Deontay Burnett. It was Burnett’s touchdown grab in the Rose Bowl that sealed the Trojan comeback.

On defense the Trojans return their leading edge rushers Rasheem Green and Porter Gustin who combined for 11.5 sacks. They’ll need them when they take on UCLA and fellow top draft prospect Josh Rosen on November 18. That game could very well determine who wins the Pac-12 South.