College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2023

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Adonai Mitchell #5 congratulates Arian Smith #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs on his touchdown catch during a game between Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

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Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) in action during the game between the USC Trojans and the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

I’m a big believer in USC heading into next season no matter what happened with the Trojans in the Cotton Bowl. Although that loss to Tulane was embarrassing and unthinkable, Lincoln Riley’s team will be back with a vengeance next year.

In the last season as a member of the Pac-12, USC will return Caleb Williams after winning the Heisman, an elite receiving corps, and the Trojans now bring in South Carolina running back transfer MarShawn Lloyd.

This offense is going to be a problem for darn near everyone next season.

The defense, on the other hand, needs some work. Alex Grinch will have some solid defensive transfers to work with and he’s proven himself in the past at programs like Washington State and Oklahoma.

If the defense can figure things out and the offense plays to its potential next season, the Trojans should be one of the top playoff threats.

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