USC recruiting talent and poll rankings do not match up

Poll rankings do not reflect the level of talent USC has, and there are other gaps in poll rankings for other teams rated above USC.

The USC Trojans are ranked No. 15 in the Team Talent Composite that was shared by 247Sports.  What is interesting about this ranking of USC recruiting is that it doesn’t correlate with the recently released AP Poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. Both polls have the Trojans positioned toward the bottom of the top 25 at No. 23.

It’s interesting to observe that four of the five teams trailing USC in the Top 20 Team Talent Composite rank higher than the Trojans in both polls.

Michigan, one spot behind USC in the composite, is 14 and 15 positions higher in the polls, placed in the top 10. Tennessee, two slots behind Michigan in the composite, is eight spots higher than USC in each poll.

Missouri, ranked No. 11 in both polls, surprisingly has a lower talent composite ranking than USC at No. 19.

Lastly, Ole Miss, with a talent composite ranking of No. 20, is surprisingly ranked inside the top 10 at No. 6 by both coaches and media.

The implication must be that perceptions of USC’s coaching are dragging down the poll rankings. It is a stark reminder that the national perception of USC has not caught up with its reality.  USC completely overhauled its defense that has been holding the program back the past two years (and Lincoln Riley for most of his head coaching career).

The good news for Trojan fans who hold fast to recruiting rankings is that USC has top-15 talent that will be coached by one of the most proven offensive minds in the game. The defense has been handed over to one of the hottest young coordinators in football.  We will all soon find out as the Trojans’ season kicks off in Las Vegas against the LSU Tigers.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, Ducks Wire, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.