As we all embark on Indianapolis for Big Ten Media Days, a new ranking has just been released for the conference heading into fall camp. As everyone knows, 4 former PAC12 teams will be joining the conference, including the USC Trojans, and bring with them a lot of talent and expectations.
Washington was in the College Football Championship just last year. Oregon has a ton of momentum and one of the nation’s top recruiting classes for 2024 and 2025. UCLA is starting fresh with a new coach in DeShaun Foster, but the excitement around the program is palpable. And the USC Trojans head to the BIG with a new defensive staff, a new QB, and a new feeling of hope.
Related: USC Football Will Be Back When It Builds A “Trojan Wall”
Cleveland.com came out with their 14th annual BIG Ten Football Poll, and the Trojans find themselves in the 6th position.
USC Trojans Rank 6th In Lastest Big Ten Poll
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Iowa
- USC
- Wisconsin
- Nebraska
- Rutgers
- Washington
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Northwestern
- UCLA
- Michigan State
- Indiana
- Purdue
Of the 27 voters in the poll, 21 chose Ohio State as the top team. OSU returns a ton of top-tier talent from last year’s roster while adding QB Will Howard in the transfer portal, and the number one player in the 2024 recruiting class, WR Jeremiah Smith. They also added former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly as their new OC and play-caller.
Since this poll’s inauguration in 2011, only TWICE has a team other than Ohio State or Michigan been voted as the top team. Nebraska was chosen in 2011, and Michigan State was chosen in 2014.
The USC Trojans coming in at 6 feels a bit low, but based on last season and all of the changes that were made in the offseason, it isn’t egregious. However, I would personally put them ahead of Iowa and their dead-last 2023 offense and 50th-ranked 2024 recruiting class.
The Trojans open the season on September 1st in Las Vegas against the LSU Tigers. They will begin Big Ten play in Week 3 when they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the defending champion Wolverines.