The 2023 USC Trojans season was a bumpy ride of emotions for fans and the team alike. The Trojans entered the season with high expectations, ranked No. 5 in the country and was set to make a run at the College Football Playoff. However, the season unfolded in unexpected ways, with USC experiencing both thrilling victories and frustrating defeats.
USC began the season with a bang, winning their first six games, including a statement victory over Utah. Quarterback Caleb Williams was playing at an MVP level, he is a Versatile player who can pass and run, he also was the main reason why the Trojan’s were able to win their first 6 games, and the Trojans looked like a force to be reckoned with. In a nutshell William is a young talented player who has had a lot of great moments this season, and he has a lot of potential to be a great quarter back in future.
However, the tide began to turn in mid-October when USC lost consecutive games to Notre Dame and Utah, though Williams was also to blame for this as he trew three first half interceptions in the Trojan’s loss to Notre Dame and he fumbled consistently with the ball in their fourth quater loss to UCLA. The Trojans’ offense struggled in both games, and their defense was inconsistent through out the season, maybe becsise they gave up too many big players and they were unable to make enough stops to prevent losses.
These setbacks put a dent in USC’s CFP hopes, but they didn’t completely derail their season. The Trojans bounced back with a narrow escape win over Arizona State, in which they needed 50 point to pull that off and ended with a 50-49 victory as wiliam threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, they stopped a two point conversion in the final minutes.
The following week they retuned home to face the undeafeted huskies, as Dillon Johnson ran wild for the huskies, making 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-42 win for the huskies. When it seemed like there was a little bit of hope that the Trojans could have a rivalry win at home, after the UCLA lost 17-7 to Arizona, it turned out to be the UCLA going home victorious in their 38-20 win against the Trojan’s.
USC’s 2023 season was marked by a number of missed opportunities. The Trojans had the talent and potential to make a deep playoff run, but they made too many mistakes and were unable to overcome their inconsistencies.
One of the Trojans’ biggest issues was their defense and the turn over margin. Trojans also made some questionable personnel decisions as Riley fired their defensive cordinator Alex Grinch, who he had brought in from Norman, after their chances of getting to the CFP were already dashed, which was rather too late as he could have done that since 2022.
He felt Trojans play-calling was sometimes conservative.USC finished the season with a -9 turnover margin, the worst in the Pac-12. They also struggled with penalties, committing an average of 7.5 penalties per game.
These miscues often came at crucial moments in games, costing USC valuable points and momentum. If the Trojans could have cleaned up these mistakes, they could have easily won a few more games and had a much different season.
Despite the team’s overall struggles, there were some bright spots in USC’s 2023 season. Williams continued to be a dynamic playmaker, throwing for 3,714 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also rushed for 442 yards and five touchdowns.
Running back MarShawn Lloyd also had a strong season, rushing for 1,121 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was a versatile weapon for the Trojans, capable of running between the tackles and breaking off big plays in the passing game.
On defense, linebacker Eric Gentry led the team with 116 tackles. He was a force in the middle of the defense, making plays both against the run and the pass.
Despite the disappointing end to their 2023 season, there are reasons for optimism for USC football heading into 2024. This is the final college football game for William, except he decided to play in USC’s bowl game.
The Trojans will also need to address some of their weaknesses, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. If they can improve their turnover margin and reduce their penalties, they will be a much more dangerous team in 2024.
USC has a long and storied tradition of success in football, and there is no reason to believe that they cannot return to prominence in the years to come. The 2023 season was a learning experience for the Trojans, and they will look to use it as a springboard to greater success in 2024 and beyond.
