USC football schedule: Ranking the Trojans' 2022 opponents

Maybe no other big-time college football program will look quite as different this season than USC. The school brought on Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma as head coach, and in turn he attracted more than a few blue-chip transfer players.

Among them, 5-star quarterback Caleb Williams, former Oregon running back Travis Dye, former Oklahoma wideout Mario Williams, and others in an active offseason.

It's been a while since USC has been at the top of the heap — not since 2004, when the Trojans routed Oklahoma for its most recent national championship.

The program has struggled to maintain its national preeminence since Pete Carroll left, going through five coaches since 2009, being ranked just six times, and winning more than 10 games only four times.

Last season was a 4-8 nightmare that saw the ousting of Clay Helton two games into the year. In comes Riley and his staff with a mandate to get USC back to the promised land.

What stands in their way? Let's take a look at each game the Trojans play in 2022, from the easiest to the hardest.

USC football schedule: Ranking the Trojans' 2022 opponents

12. Rice

When: Sept. 3

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: Not much to worry about in the opener against a Rice team that hasn't won more than three games in Mike Bloomgren's four-year tenure. A good opportunity for Riley to let loose all the weapons he's acquired on offense and start the year off on the right foot.

11. Arizona

When: Oct. 29

Where: Tucson

What to expect: Arizona may be coming off its worst stretch in history, following a winless five-game season during Covid that included a 70-7 loss to the Sun Devils, and a one-win disaster in '21. This isn't a strong team on either side of the line and needs to dramatically improve its production at quarterback, but did sign a very good recruiting class this year, headlined by 5-star receiver recruit Tetairoa McMillan.

10. Colorado

When: Nov. 11

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: This was the second-worst overall defense and pass defense in the Pac-12 last year and is about to lose two linebackers and three defensive backs from a unit that could have used that experience. Brendon Lewis showed flashes at quarterback, but didn't respond well to pressure last year, and watched a slew of players on offense leave via transfer. This better be a big win for a USC team getting the kind of preseason hype it's getting.

9. Arizona State

When: Oct. 1

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: Jayden Daniels won't return at quarterback, and neither will three of this team's principal offensive linemen. Only four starters return on the defensive side of things, and this secondary is basically starting from scratch, a year after producing the Pac-12's second-best defense both in yards and points allowed, but should look a lot different this time around. 

Wyoming transfer running back Xazavian Valladay — a thousand-yard rusher with six TDs in 2021 — will help the Devils on the ground, an important building block for new OC Glenn Thomas.

8. Cal

USA Today Images

When: Nov. 5

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: Cal fielded a solid-looking defense a year ago, ranking fourth overall in the conference, third in scoring, and tops in yards per play allowed. But the Golden Bears have a few pieces to fill in the front seven to maintain those rankings. Not to mention at quarterback and receiver, which severely lacks in experience and production.

7. Stanford

When: Sept. 10

Where: Stanford

What to expect: A year ago, this was the worst rushing offense, the third-worst scoring unit, and the second-worst total offense in the Pac-12. Running back Austin Jones is gone (to USC), but the other 10 starters should be back, including quarterback Tanner McKee. All seven of his INTs came in the last five games, all losses. When he didn't turn the ball over, Stanford fared a more respectable 3-2, including a win over No. 3 Oregon.

6. Washington State

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When: Oct. 8

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: Expect an increase in offensive production with former Incarnate Word quarterback Cameron Ward coming over. He threw 47 touchdowns last season — at least four in seven games — while surpassing 4,600 passing yards. And he'll have continuity with his former coach Eric Morris calling plays as Washington State's first-year offensive coordinator. Defensively, the Cougars will be very easy to beat.

5. Oregon State

When: Sept. 24

Where: Corvallis

What to expect: OSU put a decent product on the field offensively in 2021, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 in total yards and scoring per game (31.2). But the Beavers need to plug in two new blockers and find a swap for NFL-bound rusher B.J. Baylor. Chance Nolan had mixed results, passing for 19 scores, but also 10 interceptions. He passed for over 200 yards in eight games, but didn't score in a bowl game loss to Utah State.

4. Fresno State

When: Sept. 17

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: A familiar game for USC fans, especially in recent years with memories of Reggie Bush running through the Bulldogs' defense. Jeff Tedford is back at head coach after winning 26 games in three years there, and he'll have one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football. 

Jake Haener was a 4,000-yard passer last fall with 33 TDs and nine picks, beating a 13th-ranked UCLA on the road. Fresno's defense is pretty solid, too, ranking 32nd nationally, behind Big 12 champion Baylor. This game comes early and can influence the course of USC's season.

3. UCLA

When: Nov. 19

Where: Pasadena

What to expect: USC fans don't need reminded what happened in this game last season, when the Bruins put up 62 points in their win. After winning just 10 games in three years, Chip Kelly put together his best team in 2021, going 8-4 and placing second in the division. And while he loses some key defensive pieces to the draft, Kelly gets Dorian Thompson-Robinson (21 TD, 6 INT) back at quarterback and Zach Charbonnet, an 1,100-yard rusher with 13 TDs a year ago, working out of the backfield.

2. Utah

When: Oct. 15

Where: Salt Lake City

What to expect: The first really tough game on the Trojans' schedule comes midseason on the road against the defending Pac-12 champions. Utah lost four games last fall, but has emerged as one of the trendy preseason picks to make some noise (including by us), and why not? 

Utah returns star back Tavion Thomas, a thousand-yard rusher who rumbled for 21 scores a year ago. Add in quarterback Cameron Rising — 20 TDs, 5 INT — and this team can make another run in this league. This will be a vital measuring stick to gauge how well Riley's rebuilding project is going in Year 1.

1. Notre Dame

When: Nov. 26

Where: Los Angeles

What to expect: Notre Dame has taken the last four in this series with USC winning just three since Pete Carroll left. This season's edition finds both teams working under young, first-year coaches — Riley, an offensive guru, and Marcus Freeman, a very promising defensive strategist. 

If all goes according to plan, USC could be trending upward by season's end if it can pass some midseason tests, while the Irish will have had to contend with a strong schedule against the likes of Ohio State, Clemson, and BYU. Troy could be in a position to destroy ND's year while putting itself squarely in the running for the Pac-12 title and a quality bowl.

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