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College Football Rankings 2023: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 2

By Connor Muldowney

The Florida State Seminoles celebrate their 45-24 victory over the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.
The Florida State Seminoles celebrate their 45-24 victory over the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. /
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Sep 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans running back MarShawn Lloyd (0) scores on a 24-yard touchdown run against Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back KK Meier (10) in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans running back MarShawn Lloyd (0) scores on a 24-yard touchdown run against Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back KK Meier (10) in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s hard not to be high on USC after it just dropped 66 points on Nevada in Week 1 after having an offensive party in Week 0 against San Jose State.

The only question about this team after the first two weeks of play is whether or not Alex Grinch can improve the defense and make it through the entire season. He’s faced two Group of Five teams so far and he surrendered 360 yards to Nevada (311 through the air) and 396 to San Jose State. That’s not ideal. What happens when he faces Colorado, Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and even UCLA?

OK, enough of the negative side of the Trojans, let’s talk about how this offense has not skipped a beat since last year.

Caleb Williams is off to a heck of a start to his Heisman campaign (again), passing for 319 yards and five touchdowns with just six incompletions against Nevada and 14 (!!) different Trojans caught a pass against the Wolf Pack.

MarShawn Lloyd led a solid run game with 76 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and Quinten Joyner had 65 yards and a score on four touches.

This team is explosive.

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