USC's Caleb Williams is ESPN's No. 1 ranked QB going into the 2023 season

ESPN crowned USC's Caleb Williams as its No. 1 quarterback going into the 2023 season on Monday. This is the second major QB power ranking the reigning Heisman winner has topped this offseason along with CBS. 

Williams will find himself in a rare spot when the Trojans open the season againstSan Jose Stateas a reigning Heisman Trophy winner back on campus. It has become more common over the past decade -- Johnny Manziel,Jameis Winston,Lamar Jackson,Bryce Young-- but none of them, or any quarterback before them, accomplished whatOhio Staterunning back Archie Griffin did by winning back-to-back Heisman Trophies. Can Williams buck the trend? The odds are low for a variety of factors, but that doesn't mean expectations for Williams in his second year in Los Angeles won't be even higher than before. The weight of USC's revival rests heavily on his shoulders, and after he led the Trojans back from competitive irrelevance in Year 1, anything short of a conference title and playoff berth could be viewed as disappointment.

Last year's stats will be hard to replicate, too. Williams threw for 4,537 yards with 42 touchdown passes to five interceptions with a QBR of 87.6. He also ran for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns, meaning he had a hand in an average of 3.7 touchdowns per game. If he does repeat as the Heisman winner, it will mean USC is near the top of the polls -- something that will be more reliant on USC's ability to field an improved defense than on anything to do with Williams. Either way, this figures to be his final season of college football before departing for the NFL. --Kyle Bonagura

Williams was one of four Pac-12 quarterbacks on the Top 10 list along with Washington's Michael Penix, who was right behind Williams at No. 2, Oregon's Box Nix at No. 4 and Utah's Cameron Rising at No. 6. 

Williams completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 4,537 yards with 42 touchdown passes against just five interceptions in 14 games. He also ran for 382 yards and an additional 10 scores. 

USC is coming off an 11-3 campaign after just four wins in 2021. While USC had some impressive wins, including both Notre Dame and UCLA, the season ended on a painful note with a blowout loss to Utah in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship and a fourth-quarter collapse against Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. 

The Trojans figure to be a consensus preseason Top 10 team going into next season and a favorite to return to the conference championship game with the return of Williams.

The big questions for the Trojans and their College Football Playoff hopes will be on defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who will return for another year, and his defense. 

"I've been through it enough with that guy to know, don't bet against him. Anybody in a situation like this where we know we need to take a big jump in all areas, and we need to be better as coaches. We need to be better as players. We need to own the things that we did well. We need to own and fix the things we didn't do well," said Riley. "I just know what he's made of. I just do. And I know what's getting ready to happen defensively. And so, I just have a confidence and a belief, and not just Alex, but the other guys in the room. I believe in the quality of people that we have in there."

The defense will be losing key starters in All-American defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu, who led the nation in sacks, and No. 1 cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. But USC is bringing in a sizable high school recruiting class, which features four-star Louisiana linebacker Tackett Curtis and Top 100 edge rusher Braylan Shelby. The Trojans also currently boast the No. 2 transfer class in the nation, featuring former five-star defensive lineman and Texas A&M transfer Anthony Lucas, former Arizona defensive tackle starter Kyon Barrs and former Oklahoma State linebacker Mason Cobb. 

USC is also adding a Top 15 high school recruiting class.