USC Football 2023 Preview: Way too early season prediction, key matchups, players to watch, roster and more

Entering the 2022 season, the USC Trojans were the most fascinating and polarizing team in college football and did not disappoint. Head coach Lincoln Riley brought his dazzling array of offense from Oklahoma to USC, and he didn't come alone.

Lincoln Riley brought prized recruit, QB Caleb Williams, with him. We saw glimpses of Williams' talent, but we were in awe, witnessing the full arsenal on display last season. Caleb Williams would eventually walk away with the Heisman Trophy.

The Trojans fall short in the Pac-12 title game, but with Riley and Williams back for one more season together, the Trojans can win a Pac-12 and National Title.

Way too early season prediction

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Tulane v USC

The Trojans will miss WR Jordan Addison, who left for the NFL, but the cupboard is not bare in Southern California. Lincoln Riley and the recruiting staff have done an excellent job of providing weapons around QB Caleb Williams.

The defensive side of the ball has plenty of holes, but the offense can outscore almost every team in the country. The Trojans finish the season, this time, winning the Pac-12 and advancing to the National semi-finals.

Key matchups for the 2023 season

The first half of the season should be a cakewalk for the team. The Trojans will be heavy favorites in every game through their first six games.

The second half of the schedule is much more daunting. Traveling to South Bend to face Notre Dame on October 14 won't be easy. Next week, October 21, the Trojans take on the defending Pac-12 champion, the Utah Utes.

If the Trojans remain unscathed at that juncture, they have a back-to-back gauntlet in November as they face Washington on November 4, then travel to Eugene to face Oregon the following week.

Players to watch

QB Caleb Williams will headline not only the Trojans coverage but national coverage. Williams is the early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy again and the presumed favorite as the No. 1 player drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.

I want to see how South Carolina transfer RB Marshawn Lloyd looks in the Trojans offense. Lloyd should have plenty of light boxes to run against.

Roster analysis

The defense is a problem for the Trojans. The team struggled at times to stop the run and the pass in 2022. Another season might provide stability, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Offensively, the Trojans have as much firepower as any team in the country. We can speak ad nauseam about Caleb Williams all day, but the players around him are also impressive. The Trojans can beat you on the ground and through the air.

Coaching staff and changes

2023 CFP National Championship - TCU v Georgia

We know what we have in Lincoln Riley. Riley is one of the top offensive minds in the game today and doesn't disappoint.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will be under the microscope this season. The Trojans' defense must carry its weight if USC wants to accomplish its lofty goals.

Expectations and goals

2022 Heisman Trophy Presentation

The expectations for USC could not be higher entering the 2023 season. Lincoln Riley has been coined an "offensive genius" and has world-class talent in QB Caleb Williams at his disposal.

Teams don't get opportunities like this often. USC must take advantage of this dynamic duo and walk away with a Pac-12 title.

Conclusion

If not now, then when? USC fell short when it mattered most last season, falling flat against a Utah team that punched them in the mouth. How this program responds to adversity is one of the storylines of the college football season.

I am buying that Caleb Williams is the best player on the field for every game this season and has another season for the ages. USC doesn't have the complete roster to win a National title, but they have a generational talent at QB, which is enough to take the Pac-12 crown.