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College Football Rankings: Top 25 entering spring games

By Brad Weiss

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of the College Football Playoff championship trophy during the game between the Clemson Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of the College Football Playoff championship trophy during the game between the Clemson Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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USC Trojans

2016: 10-3, Pac 12- South Division

For the first time in a while, the USC Trojans will enter the regular season as a favorite to win the national title. Last season, the Trojans got off to a horrid start with Max Browne at quarterback, and the team handed the reigns to redshirt Freshman Sam Darnold. From there, the Trojans dominated, winning their last nine games, including an epic Rose Bowl victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Heading into 2017, Darnold is a front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy after throwing for over 3,00 yards and 31 touchdowns against only nine interceptions last season. Also returning for the Trojans is budding star running back Ronald Jones II, who gained over 1,000 yards on the ground last season to go along with his 12 touchdowns. Though JuJu Smith-Schuster is gone, Darnold will have Deontay Burnett returning, giving him one of the better wideouts in the Pac-12.

Head coach Clay Helton is building something special in La La Land, and the Trojans have the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation this year. They open the season against Western Michigan, Stanford, and Texas at home, so the stage is set for them to get off to a better start than last year. Their toughest road opponent this season will likely be Colorado, which means they could certainly be undefeated when it comes playoff time in December.

USC is going to be good, but the issue with their schedule is they have no regular season bye this year. The only week off they have is before the final regular season game and the Pac-12 Championship, which means staying healthy is put at even more of a premium. With 51 returning players who saw action last season, and a Heisman-caliber quarterback, USC fans could be in for the best season they have seen since 2004.

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