There’s not a lot that can be gained looking back on the University of Southern California Trojans past college football season so it’s best to look forward to next year’s calendar and see what 2013 looks like. At first glance, the 13-game schedule appears manageable.
Before we look at who they matchup with, it might be important to observe who they don’t play: the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies. Not that USC can’t and hasn’t beaten those two schools, but if a team has their choice, playing Oregon State instead of Oregon and Washington State instead of Washington appears on paper to be the better bet, scheduling-wise. All games are played on Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Start in paradise
In any event, the season begins in the tropics against an improving but still rebuilding Hawaii Warrior team on Thursday, August 29th. Then the Trojans go right into their Pac-12 Conference schedule with a home game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the air-attack of the Washington State Cougars. They stay in the Coliseum for their next contest with a non-conference team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Eagles of Boston College, who will have a new head coach in 2013. USC concludes a string of three straight home contests with a game against the Utah State Aggies – a team that unlike the Trojans ended up ranked at the end of this past season (16th in the final AP poll). Utah State will also have a new coaching staff.
USC heads out on the road for a Pac-12 contest against a high-scoring Arizona State Sun Devil squad in Tempe. The Trojans then have a bye before hosting a rare Thursday night conference affair at the Coliseum versus the Arizona Wildcats and their high-octane offense. For those who will be visiting downtown L.A. on this October 10th evening, you might want to give yourself plenty of time during on what arguably is the worst traffic period of the entire week in what otherwise is an area known for bad traffic anyway. Afterwards, USC heads east to play in South Bend against their vaunted rivals, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
The Trojans head home to battle a Pac-12 foe in the Utah Utes, who are coming off a rare poor season. USC then has a relative quick turnaround contest on a Friday night with the Pac-12 road matchup against the Oregon State Beavers who seem to have rebounded after a couple bad years. The Trojans stay on the road in conference with a game at Berkeley against a new head coach and staff led by Sonny Dykes for the California Golden Bears.
USC is at home and follows up one battle against a Northern California foe for another with what should be one of their biggest games in conference against the Stanford Cardinal. Next, the Trojans play their final Pac-12 road game against a new head coach in Mike MacIntyre at the Colorado Buffaloes. Boulder in late November could offer the potential for a very cold weather game. The season ends back home against their crosstown rival UCLA Bruins.
Championship year is possible
If, and that’s a big IF, USC plays to their talent level, each game is winnable. The first game and the first conference road contest are always a bit of a question mark but the Trojans should prevail until they head to Notre Dame. That program has improved and although the Irish were overrated this past season (see related articles), they still will be a force to be reckoned with in 2013. The conference road game at Oregon State might be tough and of course Stanford is always a huge game, plus UCLA is a big game no matter the circumstances.
The USC Trojans have an abundance of talent but it’s the coaching that is in question and whether or not they coach-up players to their potential in 2013. If USC and their coaching staff are ready … a winning and possible championship schedule is there for the taking.
Sources – University of Southern California
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USC Trojans 2012 Losses Lead to Lost Recruits
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Pac-12 Breaks Even in Bowl Season
2012 USC Trojans: How Did Projected National Champion Lose Six Games?
Daryle lived in Los Angeles Ca. most of his life and has been a longtime fan of USC and the Pac-12, having closely followed the Trojans since he was just a youngster. Fight On!
