USC football barely sneaks into preseason US LBM Coaches Poll

The USC Trojans aren’t getting any respect. Is it fair? Who cares? All that matters is that the Trojans need to earn respect before anyone gives it to them. The latest example: The preseason edition of the US LBM Coaches Poll from USA TODAY Sports has USC at the back end of the poll. The Trojans barely got in while a lot of other programs have much higher rankings despite facing questions as severe if not worse than what USC football is dealing with. Without further ado, let’s give you the poll so that you can identify all the teams ranked ahead of USC. There are more than 20 of them.

1 – GEORGIA

Georgia didn’t make the playoff last season and is expected to come roaring back with a huge chip on its shoulder.

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2 – OHIO STATE

Ohio State is absolutely loaded on defense. The Buckeyes made huge NIL investments to make sure they get over the hump, beat Michigan, and play in the national championship game.

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3 – OREGON

Phil Knight’s investments plus Dan Lanning’s recruiting ability and overall program salesmanship have given Oregon an elite roster. The Ducks and Ohio State are the favorites in the Big Ten, ahead of USC.

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4 – TEXAS

Texas made the playoff last season, but it didn’t play in the SEC. This year will be a much bigger test for the Longhorns.

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5 – ALABAMA

Kalen DeBoer replaces Nick Saban at Alabama. DeBoer has recruited really well and looks like he’s up to the task, but replacing an icon is not easy. We have to see DeBoer deliver in Tuscaloosa before we’re sure he’s ready to keep a high Tide in the SEC.

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6 – OLE MISS

Lane Kiffin tries to get Ole Miss to the playoff, and also to the SEC Championship Game. Ole Miss has never played in the SEC title game since the event began in 1992.

7 – NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame enters the season with top-10 status. It will be fascinating to see where the Irish and USC are when they meet on Thanksgiving weekend.

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8 – MICHIGAN

Michigan’s defense should be awesome, but the offense loses a lot of key players from the 2023 national championship roster. Sherrone Moore replaces Jim Harbaugh. This will be a fascinating team to watch.

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9 – PENN STATE

USC faces Penn State on Oct. 12. It’s part of the Trojans’ packed schedule this year. USC faces three teams in the top 10 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and four of the top 12.

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10 – FLORIDA STATE

Florida State was wrongly excluded from the 2023 playoff. Let’s see what the Seminoles do in response this season.

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11 – MISSOURI

LSU faces USC on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas. It’s a huge game, and a huge chance for USC to make a big national statement right out of the gate. This is the most important game of USC’s season — not just because it’s first, but because a win sets up the playoff as a realistic possibility and changes the national narrative surrounding Lincoln Riley.

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13 – UTAH

USC is glad to see Utah go to the Big 12. The Utes wore out USC, though two of the three games in recent years were very close.

14 – CLEMSON

Can Dabo Swinney win big without going into the transfer portal? It’s one of the biggest questions in college football in 2024.

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15 – TENNESSEE

Tennessee was amazing in 2022 and regressed in 2023, much like USC. Can the Vols bounce back in 2024?

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16 – OKLAHOMA

When USC won 11 games in 2022, Oklahoma fans were mighty quiet. When USC lost five games in 2023, Oklahoma fans were mighty vocal. What will 2024 bring?

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17 – KANSAS STATE

Kansas State doesn’t get the huge headlines but remains a consistently good program. It’s one of the quiet success stories in college football.

18 – OKLAHOMA STATE

No Texas, no Oklahoma in the new-look Big 12. It’s a big chance for Mike Gundy to win a conference title at Oklahoma State.

19 – MIAMI

We know Mario Cristobal can recruit. Can he coach? This year is a decisive one in Coral Gables.

20 – TEXAS A\u0026amp;M

Texas A&M might have made the second-best hire of the past coaching carousel by hiring Mike Elko. (Alabama’s hire of Kalen DeBoer ranks No. 1.) Let’s see if Elko can do what Jimbo Fisher could not in College Station.

Follow Aggies Wire for more coverage.

21 – ARIZONA

Arizona gave USC a very tough time last year and became a better team than the Trojans by season’s end. Can the Wildcats win the Big 12 in their first year in the conference, with a new head coach (Brent Brennan) in place of Jedd Fisch?

22 – NC STATE

North Carolina State has never made a New Year’s Six bowl. Can the Wolfpack break through?

23 – USC

No. 23. That’s where USC is, below NC State and Miami and Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Kansas State. If the Trojans aren’t hugely motivated to prove people wrong, something’s way off with Lincoln Riley’s program. USC should definitely be better than it was last year. Whether the Trojans can improve enough to make the playoff — which they would do if they go 10-2 or better — is the real question.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football barely sneaks into preseason US LBM Coaches Poll