USC

In existence since 1880, the University of Southern California has long been one of college football’s marquee programs.  Located in Los Angeles, USC’s cardinal and gold clad fan base have reason to cheer as the Trojans finished a “rebuilding” year that would be the envy of many programs in the country finishing the season 11-2 with a convincing 32-18 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.  Over the last five years the Trojans have won five consecutive conference titles, played in five BCS bowls, won two National Championships and finished in the AP top 4 every year.  Also over that period, USC featured three Heisman Trophy winners in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

USC is almost a lock to win their sixth consecutive conference title in 2007.  With 15 returning starters led by Heisman candidate senior quarterback John David Booty, the Trojans look to make a run at their third National Championship in five years.  With another top 5 ranked recruiting class, coach Pete Carroll has the talent most other coaches can only dream of.  With most of the turnover on offense, the Trojans will remain solid defensively and will feast on teams having to play catch-up to their highly vaunted offensive unit.  The Trojans’ biggest challenge will come on November 10^th at California in what will most likely be the determining game to see whether or not USC will be playing in the BCS Championship Game on January 7^th.

In six seasons at USC, head coach Pete Carroll holds an impressive record of 65-12.  A defense first coach, Carroll has been at the helm of the most successful college program of the decade.  The loss of former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to the Raiders means that Norm Chow disciple Steve Sarkisian will be at the controls of the Trojans’ Ferrari of an offense.  With the talent that Carroll is able to recruit there is no way that USC will struggle for the foreseeable future and all of the pieces are in place for the Trojans to be one of the great dynasties in college football.

The Trojans are in the enviable position of having any departures not have a terrible impact on the team.  Leading receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith left for the NFL but junior Patrick Turner and sophomore Vidal Hazelton should be able to pick up where they left off.  The accidental death of kicker Mario Danelo leaves that position’s status to be determined in practice.  The key player to watch has to be John David Booty.  If he can build upon his lights-out Rose Bowl performance this year there may soon be another Heisman Trophy in Heritage Hall and the Trojans will be in the thick of any discussions regarding the BCS Championship.