The USC Trojans were ranked No. 15 in the preseason edition of the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Some might view that as a surprise, others might view it as expected. Some might find the ranking too high, others too low.
What matters is that USC has to earn its place in college football. It won’t be handed to the Trojans on a silver platter. The Trojans need to take what’s out there. No one will roll out the red carpet for them and make this easy. It’s not supposed to be easy.
Notably, Utah and Oregon were ranked ahead of USC. The coaches think the Trojans won’t make the Pac-12 Championship Game this December in Las Vegas.
The coaches poll mirrors the Pac-12 media vote, which also had USC third behind Utah and Oregon.
Motivation? There should be no shortage of it for USC in 2022.
Here is the full poll:
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Clemson
- Notre Dame
- Michigan
- Texas A&M
- Utah
- Oklahoma
- Baylor
- Oklahoma State
- Oregon
- N.C. State
- Michigan State
- USC
- Pittsburgh
- Miami
- Texas
- Wake Forest
- Wisconsin
- Kentucky
- Cincinnati
- Arkansas
- Ole Miss
- Houston
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz8sj88pxak7gd player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
[listicle id=46373]