Pac-12 Preview: What is expected of Lincoln Riley in his sophomore season at USC?

USC is as well-equipped for a championship run as we’ve seen in years. Can Lincoln Riley get it done in 2023?

As June starts to roll into July, and July eventually leads us to the start of fall camps at the beginning of August, the 2023 college football season will be here before we know it. What a season it projects to be in the Pac-12 Conference, as well. With a handful of College Football Playoff contenders, and a group of Heisman Trophy candidates leading their prospective teams, we could be set up for one of the best football seasons out west that we’ve seen in decades. To help get us prepared, we at Ducks Wire wanted to go through each team in the conference and give a comprehensive breakdown of each school, breaking down their 2023 outlook. Welcome to our Pac-12 Previews. New editions will be published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday leading up to the start of fall camp. 

Check out our previously published previews: Arizona Wildcats — Arizona State Sun Devils — California Golden Bears — Colorado Buffaloes — Oregon State Beavers — Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins


It has been a long time since USC has challenged for a national championship, but they seem more equipped to do it now than they have been in recent years. With the return of Heisman Trophy-winning QB, Caleb Williams, the additions of key players like Bear Alexander and Mason Cobb, and the presence of one of college football’s greatest minds, Lincoln Riley, USC has all the pieces of a championship team, it just remains to be seen if they will execute. Below is a look at the 2023 season for the USC Trojans.