CU Buffs opponent preview: Caleb Williams, USC Trojans set sights on College Football Playoff

A seven-win improvement from one year to the next was impressive last season for the USC Trojans.

This year, the expectations and goals are even higher.

Led by Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans are aiming not only for a Pac-12 title, but a spot in the College Football Playoff.

This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2023 season and in this installment, we look at USC. The Buffs host the Trojans on Sept. 30 at Folsom Field.

Two years ago, USC went 4-8, its worst season in 30 years. Riley was lured away from Oklahoma, rebuilt the roster through the transfer portal and led the Trojans to an 11-3 record. They were 11-1 before getting routed by Utah in the Pac-12 title game and coughing up a late 15-point lead in a loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

It was a disappointing finish, but still a sensational season to set the tone for this year.

“To go from 4-8 to the doorstep of the College Football Playoff really speaks to the work that Lincoln Riley has done,” said Ryan Kartje, USC beat writer for the Los Angeles Times. “We expected a little bit of a honeymoon with Riley over the course of this year, but at this point it’s kind of playoff or bust. They certainly have the pieces to make that sort of run.”

It all starts with Williams, who won the Heisman after following Riley to Los Angeles from Oklahoma. Williams is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and this is surely going to be his final year in college.

“You can’t waste that time with Caleb Williams,” Kartje said. “There’s only so often that you’re gonna get a generational quarterback prospect. I think it’s pretty clear that Caleb will be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft this coming year. Those quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. You certainly have to take advantage of that.”

At receiver, first-round pick Jordan Addison is gone, but Tahj Washington, Mario Williams and Brenden Rice are back. Star Dorian Singer transferred in from Arizona. And, the true freshman class includes five-star receiver Zachariah Branch, five-star tight end Duce Robinson and four-star receiver Makai Lemon.

“There’s no lack of targets in that group,” Kartje said.

The Trojans also reloaded at running back and picked up multiple offensive line starters through the transfer portal. The Trojans ranked third nationally in scoring last year (41.4 per game) and could top that this year.

“The offense in general will certainly be better,” Kartje said. “The question is: can the defense play at a level strong enough to keep the offense afloat to compete in the Pac-12?”

Despite having the Pac-12 defensive player of the year (Tuli Tuipulotu) in 2022, the Trojans weren’t very good on defense. Tuipulotu is now playing for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, and many were surprised that Riley kept defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

Riley, however, hit the transfer portal hard to bolster the defense. They found likely starters on the line, linebacker and secondary.

“It’s a more talented group now, but there are still a lot of questions about Alex Grinch and the direction he’s taken this defense,” Kartje said. “If they’re going to make that sort of run this year with a harder schedule than they had the previous season, they’re going to need major leaps from that defense, pretty much at every level.”

The schedule is a bit tougher, but with USC heading to the Big Ten next year and Williams still at quarterback, this is a huge season for the Trojans to capitalize on an opportunity.

“I do think this is a team that certainly can win the Pac-12 and make some noise at the playoff level,” Kartje said.

USC Trojans

Head coach: Lincoln Riley, 2nd season (11-3; 66-13 career)

2022 season: 11-3, 8-1 Pac-12

Series with CU: USC leads 16-0

The Game

Who: USC Trojans at Colorado Buffaloes

When: Saturday, Sept. 30, TBA

Where: Folsom Field in Boulder

5 Guys to Watch

• DL Bear Alexander: One of the most highly recruited defensive linemen in the country in the class of 2022, Alexander played last season for national champion Georgia. In limited time as a reserve, he had nine tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups and 13 quarterback hurries. Transferred this offseason and could be a dominant force right away.

• S Calen Bullock: Last year he was named first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and first-team All-Pac-12 by the Associated Press. Finished the season with 48 tackles and five interceptions, along with five pass breakups. He had 172 yards on his interception returns, including a 93-yard touchdown.

• WR Brenden Rice: Former Colorado star posted 39 catches for 611 yards and four touchdowns in his first season at USC. He was fourth in the team in all three categories. He could be in line for a bigger role this season.

• WR Dorian Singer: A year ago, he was Arizona’s top receiver, finishing second in the Pac-12 with 92.1 receiving yards per game. He finished the year with 66 catches for 1,105 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 16.7 yards per catch.

• QB Caleb Williams: The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions, while also rushing for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s among the favorites to win the Heisman again.

Good to know

• USC made its fourth appearance in the Pac-12 title game last season, losing to Utah, 47-24. The Trojans are 1-3 in title game appearances, with their only win coming in 2017.

• Despite having just one title in the Pac-12 era (since 2011), USC has the second-best conference record in that time, at 72-32, a .692 winning percentage. Only Oregon (74-30, .712) has been better.  No other team has won more than 65 conference games in the Pac-12.

• Last season, USC ranked third nationally in scoring (41.4 points per game) and third in total offense (506.6 yards per game). Defensively, however, the Trojans were 93rd in points allowed (29.2) and 106th in yards allowed (423.9).

• Austin Jones, who was second on the team with 705 rushing yards and five touchdowns, is back. He will compete with South Carolina transfer MarShawn Lloyd (573 yards, nine TDs in 2022) for the starting job.

• Sophomore running back Raleek Brown could be one of the best all-purpose weapons in the country. Last year, he rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry; caught 16 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns; and racked up 517 yards on kickoff returns (21.54 average).

• Kicker Denis Lynch is back after going 15-of-22 on field goals and making all 74 extra point attempts.

Portal movement

It’s been another active offseason for the Trojans. They lost 18 players to the portal, most of them backups. Key losses included receiver Kyle Ford (UCLA), tight end Malcolm Epps (Pittsburgh); offensive tackle Courtland Ford (Kentucky), linebackers Ralen Goforth (Washington) and Tuasivi Nomura (Fresno State) and cornerback Latrell McCutchin (Houston). Coming in, they have the No. 4-ranked transfer class, per 247Sports.com. USC added 15 players, many of which are expected to start. On offense, running back MarShawn Lloyd (South Carolina), receiver Dorian Singer (Arizona) and offensive linemen Jarrett Kingston (Washington State), Emmanuel Pregnon (Wyoming) and Michael Tarquin (Florida) could all start. On the defensive line, Bear Alexander (Georgia), Kyon Barrs (Arizona) and Anthony Lucas (Texas A&M) were huge additions, along with linebackers Mason Cobb (Oklahoma State) and Jamil Muhammad (Georgia State), cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (Arizona) and punter Edward Czaplicki (Arizona State).