The preseason polls are about to start sorting out college football’s contenders, and the Big Ten is once again right at the center of the conversation.
With the conference coming off the last three national championships, the spotlight is squarely on programs like Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and USC as the season approaches. The Ducks are drawing plenty of attention with Dante Moore back at quarterback and what’s being described as one of the most talented rosters in the country. Under Dan Lanning, Oregon is being talked about as a team that could finally get over the hump and win its first national title.
Ohio State and Indiana also sit firmly in the mix, while USC is trying to turn a near miss from last season into a College Football Playoff berth in Riley’s fifth season. The Trojans came just short a year ago, and the question now is whether they can finish the job.
The preseason picture starts taking shape Tuesday, Aug. 4, when the Coaches Poll is released. The AP Top 25 follows on Aug. 17.
Elsewhere, the SEC is expected to be loaded again. Texas, with Arch Manning back at quarterback, and Georgia are both projected to land near the top of the rankings. The league’s depth should also keep teams like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, and LSU in the playoff conversation, with the source noting new coach Lane Kiffin with the Tigers.
The ACC and Big 12 have their own teams to watch, including Miami and Texas Tech. Notre Dame is also expected to be highly ranked, with Marcus Freeman’s group led by returning quarterback CJ Carr after being left out of the playoff last season.
And as always, there’s room for chaos. Last year’s Indiana run from preseason No. 20 to a 16-0 national championship is the reminder that the first rankings rarely tell the whole story.
USC’s schedule gives it a few chances to make a statement. The Trojans host Oregon on Sept. 26 and Ohio State on Oct. 31 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, then travel to face Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
In the latest FanDuel Sportsbook national championship odds, USC sits at +3500, tied with Michigan. In the Big Ten title race, the Trojans are at +1300, behind Ohio State (+180), Oregon (+260), and Indiana (+310). On the national title board, those same Big Ten programs are all ahead of USC, with Ohio State at +550, Oregon at +750, and Indiana at +950.
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King Miller Gives USC A Run Game Fans Can Believe In
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