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College Football: 5 reasons USC wins 2017 National Championship

By Cody Williams

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks downfield to pass against the Washington Huskies on November 12, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks downfield to pass against the Washington Huskies on November 12, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Clay Helton and the USC Trojans have eyes for the College Football Playoff and National Championship in 2017, and here’s why they can make it happen.

Because of the hype that they are getting coming into 2017, many won’t remember that the USC Trojans started last season with a 1-3 record. After head coach Clay Helton named Max Browne the starter, he struggled out of the gate. That’s when Sam Darnold was named the starter and the entire season turned for Helton and company.

Darnold lost his first start in Week 4, falling to the Utah Utes. After that, however, USC won nine consecutive games with him at the helm, including beating Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Now they head into the 2017 season with hopes and expectations on a major scale, however typical that is for USC. Point blank, anything other than a College Football Playoff berth and National Championship would be disappointing.

For this team, though, those expectations aren’t overblown. USC has the talent, the stars and the success to build off from last year to compete on a national scale. At the end of the season, they could well have another national title to add to their trophy case.

Why is that the case? Let’s take a look at five reasons why the USC Trojans can and will win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.

5. Clay Helton

This might seem somewhat out of place given the common perception around USC head coach Clay Helton. Entering his third year as USC head coach, there aren’t many who give him a great deal of respect, especially on a national level. In fact, there are many who wouldn’t even list him among the top five coaches in the Pac-12, much less nationally.

With a 16-7 overall record, it’s not hard to see why that would be the case. What’s more, it’s somewhat curious that he chose Max Browne over Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback to start last season. At the same time, however, it’s impossible to deny the talent that he has worked and molded into success. After all, he did finish last season 9-0. What’s more, he’s won the games he’s supposed to, never having lost at home or lost to an unranked opponent.

Now it’s all about winning the big games, those against ranked opponents. However, Helton also proved that last season. With wins over Washington and then over Penn State in the Rose Bowl, he’s proven to be able to get the big wins and recently so.

Yes, there is a great deal that Helton has left to prove. What’s more, he’s far from a flashy coach that many others on a national scale are. At the same time, though, he’s earned a bit of good faith that he can lead this team to get the job done and get to the College Football Playoff.

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