What to Expect from the 2025 USC Trojans Football Season

SteveUSC
Aug 18
2 min read

Momentum & Coaching Boosts

Coming off a dramatic 17-point comeback win over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl, USC enters 2025 with tangible momentum. Head coach Lincoln Riley praised his team's growing resilience and “toughness,” a culture he’s shaping within the program.

USC has also made key staff enhancements:

Chad Savage, a standout recruiter from Colorado State, joins as tight ends/inside receivers coach.
NFL veteran Rob Ryan becomes assistant head coach for defense/linebackers—with decades of experience and two Super Bowl rings.
Trovon Reed, a rising star in recruiting, joins as cornerbacks coach, noted for sending two players to the Senior Bowl.

Talent & Roster Composition

The Trojans boast depth and experience:

68 players return from 2024 (44 saw game action, 17 were starters).
They welcome 15 true freshmen, 12 spring transfers, and 4 summer transfers—all contributing to an influx of new talent.USC Athletics
Wide receiver Makai Lemon emerged as a key offensive weapon in 2024, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors with 764 receiving yards.Wikipedia
At quarterback, Husan Longstreet—a five-star freshman—joins what promises to be a loaded QB room under Riley’s tutelage.Wikipedia USC Athletics

Preseason Projections: Optimism vs. Caution

Expectations for USC in 2025 span a wide range:

Some projections see the Trojans contending for a Big Ten title, with ceilings reaching 11–1.SI
Performance metrics also favor them—USC climbed from No. 19 to No. 14 in ESPN’s FPI, ranking No. 4 in the Big Ten, despite lacking in human polls.BVM Sports
Conversely, media polls remain skeptical: the Cleveland.com Media Poll places USC around 9th in the Big Ten, reflecting a tempered external outlook.hammerandrails.com
Analysts forecast they might win about 7.2 games overall, including 5.2 conference contests, aligning with their 2024 performance—but suggesting room for improvement.SI
Some expect a turnaround to a 9–3 season if the team earns breaks.Off Tackle Empire
RJ Young’s “Ultimate 136” ranks USC around 26th nationally, citing a relatively manageable schedule and players like Makai Lemon as potential difference-makers.Fox Sports

Key Factors to Watch

QB Battle and Offensive Output: Will Jayden Maiava build on late-season form, or will Longstreet emerge? Riley’s track record of developing elite QBs raises expectations for offensive fireworks.hammerandrails.com USC Athletics
Big Ten Integration—Year Two: As the Trojans adapt further to power-conference demands, maintaining consistency will be critical. Analysts point out that embracing an “underdog mentality” may aid their pursuit of legitimacy.Reign of Troy
Schedule Opportunities: USC’s path includes matchups like at Illinois and home vs. Michigan, games analysts flag as potential statement wins.SI On3
Close-Game Resilience: Last season’s tendency toward tight games both helped and hurt them. If they improve situational execution, they could flip close losses into key wins.