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USC Football: 3 storylines to follow for the Trojans this spring

By Chris Peterson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 01: Head football coach Lincoln Riley of the USC attends the game between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats at Galen Center on March 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 01: Head football coach Lincoln Riley of the USC attends the game between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats at Galen Center on March 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /

Can USC win in in the running game

There were plenty of reasons why USC football struggled to win games in 2021. There was inconsistency all over the place, there were injuries and just general under-achieving.

Talent wasn’t the problem and it still isn’t. But one thing that Riley knows from his time at Oklahoma is that you have to be able to run to win in college football.

Throwing the ball is great. Quarterbacks get all the attention and that’s going to be the case with Caleb Williams who is already viewed as a viable Heisman Trophy contender.

But last season, the Trojans were 80th in the FBS in terms of rushing offense and as far as stopping the run, they ranked 88th. I don’t care how good your quarterback is, if that’s your production in the run game, you aren’t going to win the Pac-12 South. It’s as simple as that.

USC added six defenders from power-5 leagues on defense including four-star cornerback Latrell McCutchin from Oklahoma and Shane Lee from Alabama. Five-star cornerback Domani Jackson should have an immediate impact and other highly-touted recruits need to deliver.

Travis Dye should also be a key addition on offense. He was a highly-productive running back at Oregon and now that he will be starting for the Trojans, that running game should be much improved, and with Riley running the show, it will be a priority, just like at OU.

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