Top 25 college football team preview: No. 8 USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are ranked No. 8 in Sports Illustrated's 2015 college football preseason Top 25.

For the complete listing of SI's preseason Top 25 rankings, click here.

The Trojans’ hopes begin and end with senior quarterback Cody Kessler, a Heisman candidate. Last year the 6' 1", 215-pounder completed a school-record 69.7% of his passes, throwing for 39 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

Kessler’s primary target will be sophomore wideout JuJu Smith (54 catches for 724 yards and five touchdowns), while junior Darreus Rogers (21 catches, 245 yards, four touchdowns) will see a major uptick in opportunities. But the offense’s secret weapon could be a defensive player: Adoree’ Jackson, a 2014 freshman All-America cornerback who took a one-yard pass from Kessler and turned it into a 71-yard touchdown in USC’s 45–42 Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska, will see more snaps at receiver. The Trojans lack their usual bumper crop of running backs, but whoever gets the nod—likely 6' 1", 195-pound junior Justin Davis—will work behind an experienced line.

Top 25 rankings

1		Ohio State
2		Auburn
3		TCU
4		Notre Dame
5		Alabama
6		Baylor
7		Mich. State
8		USC
9		Fla. State
10		Oregon
11		Georgia
12		Clemson
13		Ole Miss
14		UCLA
15		Arizona
16		Boise State
17		Ariz. State
18		Stanford
19		Georgia Tech
20		Missouri
21		Oklahoma
22		Arkansas
23		LSU
24		Wisconsin
25		Miss. State

Defensively, there are several holes to fill along the front seven after the departure of All-America end Leonard Williams and linebacker Hayes Pullard. Junior linebacker Su’a Cravens (17 tackles for loss, three interceptions) is back, and in the secondary Jackson (10 pass breakups) will get support from 6' 2", 200-pound freshman corner Iman Marshall, USC’s top-rated recruit.

Opposing coach’s take

Kessler is probably one of the most underrated players in college football. He throws deep really well and makes great checkdowns. He’s not flashy, but he knows how to manipulate the offense. He might not win the Heisman, but shoot, he’ll win games. He’s a true quarterback. … Sark [Steve Sarkisian] is one of the better coaches in the country at finding weaknesses and exploiting them. Why attack 11 defenders when you can attack one or two? And it doesn’t matter who’s running or catching: If that experienced line gives Kessler time, you’re in trouble. … Defensively, they’ve applied a lot of pressure the last couple of years. So when you’re on offense, it doesn’t matter if you’re athletic; you have to play smashmouth. If you drop back every snap and give them time to come at you, they’re going to cause a lot of problems.

X-factor

If the Trojans hope to protect Kessler and create some balance with the running game, they’ll need a strong year from center Max Tuerk (6' 6”, 285 pounds). A four-year starter who has played four positions on the line, he helped nurture a young unit last season—three freshmen starters—that will be even stronger in 2015.

Schedule analysis

The Pac‑12 South is brutal, and the Trojans get three tough crossovers with a stiff nonconference game mixed in. First up, on Sept. 19 in L.A., is Stanford, which lost to USC 13–10 last year. Then on Thursday, Oct. 8, Sarkisian’s former team, Washington, pays a visit. USC travels to Notre Dame on Oct. 17 and to Oregon on Nov. 21. At least the finale against UCLA is in Memorial Coliseum.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

date	opponent
Sept. 5	Arkansas State
Sept. 12	Idaho
Sept. 19	Stanford
Sept. 26	at Arizona State
Oct. 8	Washington
Oct. 17	at Notre Dame
Oct. 24	Utah
Oct. 31	at California
Nov. 7	Arizona
Nov. 13	at Colorado
Nov. 21	at Oregon
Nov. 28	UCLA