USC being ranked No. 6 in the AP poll is significant from a historical perspective: Since 2004, every national champ was ranked in the AP preseason poll’s top 7 except Auburn (2010) and Florida State (2013). I actually think No. 6 is a bit high for USC but the polls agreed on it. Continue reading USC Notes: History Suggests Poll Ranking Important

Since the coaches’ preseason poll comes out first, it’s not unusual for the AP poll to have some remarkable coincidences. For example, USC is ranked No. 6 today in the AP Top 25 poll, just like in the coaches’ poll. Five Pac-12 teams made the Top 25. RANK SCHOOL POINTS 1 Georgia (60) 1,572 2 Michigan (2) 1,490 3 Ohio State (1) 1,400 4 Alabama … Continue reading USC Ranked No. 6 In AP Poll

One thing going on in USC training camp is a slower-than-expected development with the offensive line. With so many new transfers starting, it was expected to take some time for the line to gel. But sources said some of the problems the first two weeks were not necessarily related to the unit’s cohesion. “There’s been some sloppiness, penalties, things that are going to get fixed,” … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Some Things Take Time To Fix

This is widely regarded as a banner year for the Pac-12 with USC, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Oregon State, UCLA and Washington State getting votes in the USA Today coaches’ preseason poll. But the flip side of the Pac-12 is not inspiring oddsmaker Danny Sheridan of DrafKings. He lists four Pac-12 teams among his worst 12 teams in the Power 5 Conferences. Sheridan has Arizona No. … Continue reading USC Sunday Buzz: Pac-12 Well-Represented Among Nation’s Worst P5 Teams