USC is Still a Blueblood! Maybe Not.

[30Duck]

About a fortnight ago, word spread out from Rocky Top that Tennessee Vol Nico Iamaleava may be on his way to USC. Tennessee lost as many as 5 WRs to the transfer portal, and Iamaleava naturally wasn’t thrilled. He relayed some cryptic, controversy-ridden messages via social media. Turns out, that was only smoke and mirrors. With that off-shoot nipped in the bud, Lincoln Riley pivoted to a more far-sighted view. His focus pivoted towards the No.1 QB in the 2026 class. But alas, he’s coming up short on that front as well. The way that particular recruitment is progressing for the Trojans has left On3’s Josh Newberg bemused.

 

5-star Jared Curtis, ironically a Tennessee native himself, has named his top 6 schools. This includes 3 schools that he’ll be making official visits to in June. Are the USC Trojans in this exclusive club? They aren’t even in the 6. “Little surprised not to see USC in this mix.” said Josh Newburg over the On3 YouTube channel. “I thought USC would at least make his top 6, but they do not.” The six suitors include Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, South Carolina, Oregon, and Georgia. Curtis shall visit the latter 3. Pretty much all these schools are of a certain ilk, an uppish echelon. One that USC is at the risk of exiting with how the Lincoln Riley era is panning out.

[Jon Joseph]

Incoming SC QB Husan Longstreet flipped from A+M to SC, is a Rivals 4* recruit, 5* in several rankings and he looked darn good in the Poly Bowl. 

 

His 75-yard toss to Dak Moore was the game-winner. 

 

Nico got a lot of mileage for the bowl win over Iowa in his true frosh season, but he was average in the SEC this season. You couldn't tell vs. Ohio State but it was the Vols D that carried the team in 2024. 

[GatOrlando]

I live in Arizona but I'm not a Pacific Coaster in terms of knowledge or lineage. Does USC have money? I know it's a great private school in the second biggest market in the country. But do they have money or initiatives like Oregon, Michigan or Ohio State?

 

I'm obviously from an area with a lot of transients and I constantly ran into Wisconsin, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State graduates that heavily supported their alma mater. I've run into them in the few overseas countries I've been to and they proudly sport their gear to the confusion of those overseas because supporting one's university isn't done to the extent we do it over here. They support their club teams like crazy but not "University" as they say.

 

I don't really recall running into many USC fans. Maybe it's because the weather sucks and there aren't a lot of great jobs in the Midwest and there are in So Cal or Miami(another private school). I just don't see the support worldwide. Oregon is 45,000 strong undergrads right now? Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State are in the 60,000 range I believe. I don't know what USC or Miami are because of them being private but I'd wager them to be maybe 30,000.

 

I listen to Cowherd because he seems to have ties to the Pacific and he brought up how NIL is allowing northern schools with huge alumni bases to outside SEC schools like Alabama or LSU. He was speaking about school size, migration and donors and said Nick Saban retired because he saw the tea leaves. I know I'm off topic here but it goes in line with USC being a blue blood. Do they have the money coming in to keep kids in State and out of Oregon? Now that they're in the B1G you have all those huge schools eyeing that talent and as a guy that knows about Florida high school football somewhat, once that gate opens you can't close it. Urban popped it open in 2012 and Florida hasn't ever recovered.

 

There was an arrogance and lack of attention on it by our former AD Foley who was more interested in building golf courses , swimming pools and other athletic complexes that he neglected the money making one in athletics and now Florida is in a decade plus drought of doing anything.

 

It's not enough to be in Florida, Texas or California. It's not enough to be a great academic institution. It's not enough to have old trophies. You have to either put everything behind the big moneymaker or start accepting mediocrity as you watch Notre Dame, Ohio State, Washington and Michigan compete for the title.

[GatOrlando]

No. 1 2027 Cornerback Recruit Duvay Williams Considering USC Trojans, Oregon, Georgia

WWW.SI.COM

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The USC Trojans are one of four schools that have stood out to the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2027, Duvay...

 

The number one corner is down to three. Guess who is one of those three......

[Charles Fischer]

USC has a NIL organization, but their own fans say it is poorly run.  USC is in the top ten in the nation for schools with the most billionaires, and their total wealth is over 56 Billion while Phil Knight is worth 40 Billion.

 

The money is there; there are no excuses.

[HDuck]

GatOrlando, adding on to Charles here, USC essentially has a fully endowed football team.   Donors have created endowments which essentially pay the cost of each position on the team.  For example, the "Dubar Endowed Free Safety Position."

 

It takes a lot of wealthy alumni/donors to so something like that, and I don't know of any other school that comes close.  Maybe Notre Dame?  Maybe Tex A&M?  I don't know.

 

Endowed Scholarships

USCTROJANS.COM

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Endowed Scholarships

 

As for size of school based on current undergrad enrollment Oregon has just under 20,000 which was one of the smallest in the old Pac12, and obviously even more so smaller in the Big Ten.   USC is larger undergrad enrollment than Oregon, around 21.5-22.0 thousand.  Notre Dame is under 10,000.   About 25% of USC's undergrads are foreign students.

 

My observation, perhaps unfair, is that USC folks are pretty cliquish.    Their primary association is with other USC folks.   That is a contributing factor of why you "don't run into many."

 

As Charles said, USC has a lot of money.  Endowments, wealthy alums, wealthy "subway fans", wealthy parents sending their kids to school there.   But, again my observation, many of those folks draw a direct line between their wealth and how much influence they "believe" they should have at USC.   When the train of wins is rolling, they are all on board.  But, when it isn't, they become notorious second guessers about how things should be run and that is impacting the current environment at USC from NIL, to coach hiring decisions, to academic programs, to....

[DanLduck]

On 1/21/2025 at 8:16 PM, Charles Fischer said:

USC has a NIL organization, but their own fans say it is poorly run.  USC is in the top ten in the nation for schools with the most billionaires, and their total wealth is over 56 Billion while Phil Knight is worth 40 Billion.

 

The money is there; there are no excuses.

Money isn't enough. You still need good coaching. Good team unity. Great character, single belief in destiny. A belief in something bigger than yourself. 

Why wouldn't you want to be in Oregon!

Great coaching!

 

USC is not well. They are losing on every front. Mostly to Oregon!

 

Money isn't enough. Ask Texas. Or Mississippi. Or LSU. 

 

Oregon is the place to be. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/21/2025 at 9:58 PM, HDuck said:

GatOrlando, adding on to Charles here, USC essentially has a fully endowed football team.   Donors have created endowments which essentially pay the cost of each position on the team.  For example, the "Dubar Endowed Free Safety Position."

 

It takes a lot of wealthy alumni/donors to so something like that, and I don't know of any other school that comes close.  Maybe Notre Dame?  Maybe Tex A&M?  I don't know.

 

Endowed Scholarships

USCTROJANS.COM

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Endowed Scholarships

 

As for size of school based on current undergrad enrollment Oregon has just under 20,000 which was one of the smallest in the old Pac12, and obviously even more so smaller in the Big Ten.   USC is larger undergrad enrollment than Oregon, around 21.5-22.0 thousand.  Notre Dame is under 10,000.   About 25% of USC's undergrads are foreign students.

 

My observation, perhaps unfair, is that USC folks are pretty cliquish.    Their primary association is with other USC folks.   That is a contributing factor of why you "don't run into many."

 

As Charles said, USC has a lot of money.  Endowments, wealthy alums, wealthy "subway fans", wealthy parents sending their kids to school there.   But, again my observation, many of those folks draw a direct line between their wealth and how much influence they "believe" they should have at USC.   When the train of wins is rolling, they are all on board.  But, when it isn't, they become notorious second guessers about how things should be run and that is impacting the current environment at USC from NIL, to coach hiring decisions, to academic programs, to....

I was told USC had an air to them. I always just assumed it was the smog in Los Angeles.

Edited January 22 by GatOrlando

[30Duck]

On 1/22/2025 at 12:25 AM, GatOrlando said:

On 1/21/2025 at 8:58 PM, HDuck said:

Expand  

I was told USC had an air to them

USC football is Sunset Boulevard the story of the faded movie star clinging to the past, "I'm ready for my close up"

[GatOrlando]

On 1/22/2025 at 12:52 AM, DanLduck said:

Money isn't enough. You still need good coaching. Good team unity. Great character, single belief in destiny. A belief in something bigger than yourself. 

Why wouldn't you want to be in Oregon!

Great coaching!

 

USC is not well. They are losing on every front. Mostly to Oregon!

 

Money isn't enough. Ask Texas. Or Mississippi. Or LSU. 

 

Oregon is the place to be. 

Lanning seems like a genuinely good dude as well. I believe him when he says he's 100 percent committed to Oregon. I don't feel that way about guys like Lincoln Riley or Lane Kiffin.

[30Duck]

On 1/22/2025 at 4:36 PM, GatOrlando said:

Lanning seems like a genuinely good dude as well. I believe him when he says he's 100 percent committed to Oregon. I don't feel that way about guys like Lincoln Riley or Lane Kiffin.

It isn't just a feeling. Look at their track record. With Riley, USC is only his 2md job, so not exactly an indictment. But Kiffin? As far as feeling about a coach. I look at Cignetti and I get a completely opposite feeling from him and Lanning. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/22/2025 at 4:46 PM, 30Duck said:

It isn't just a feeling. Look at their track record. With Riley, USC is only his 2md job, so not exactly an indictment. But Kiffin? As far as feeling about a coach. I look at Cignetti and I get a completely opposite feeling from him and Lanning. 

With Riley I just see a guy that likes what the stage provides for him. Maybe I'm wrong but his teams seem soft and ill prepared whenever they face adversity. People say Franklin at Penn State can't win big games but they have a level of intensity no Riley coached teams have. Oklahoma never competed in their multiple playoff appearances. USC hasn't come close to even making it.

 

Look at the two NFL QBs Riley has produced. Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams don't have the respect of their teammates and they fade in the big moments. Say what you want about Bo Nix but his teammates seem to love him. To me a QB is a reflection of his coach, especially if he's known as an QB whisperer.

 

Look at those QBs that played Monday Night. Not five star guys but they are loved by their teammates and they were one year transfers. If you want to look further you can see how close Franklin and Allar were after that heartbreaking loss in the Orange Bowl. I just don't see the emotional investment at USC. Much like Miami. Cam Ward sat out the second half of a bowl game after he got some statistical achievement and his team lost by a point.

[30Duck]

On 1/23/2025 at 5:54 PM, GatOrlando said:

With Riley I just see a guy that likes what the stage provides for him. Maybe I'm wrong but his teams seem soft and ill prepared whenever they face adversity. People say Franklin at Penn State can't win big games but they have a level of intensity no Riley coached teams have. Oklahoma never competed in their multiple playoff appearances. USC hasn't come close to even making it.

 

Look at the two NFL QBs Riley has produced. Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams don't have the respect of their teammates and they fade in the big moments. Say what you want about Bo Nix but his teammates seem to love him. To me a QB is a reflection of his coach, especially if he's known as an QB whisperer.

 

Look at those QBs that played Monday Night. Not five star guys but they are loved by their teammates and they were one year transfers. If you want to look further you can see how close Franklin and Allar were after that heartbreaking loss in the Orange Bowl. I just don't see the emotional investment at USC. Much like Miami. Cam Ward sat out the second half of a bowl game after he got some statistical achievement and his team lost by a point.

It's usually unnecessary to quote the entire post, but I agreed with the entire post. A critique of Willliams that I heard is that he excelled at USC by free lancing, making plays when things broke down, as we saw that doesn't work in the NFL. Murray is another who can't regularly drive the team down the field from the pocket. 

 

Ward's leadership was in making hero plays all season, not leading the team, again his talent will get him picked, and he'll go to one of the worst teams, we'll see how that works out. Meanwhile, Nix was very fortunate to land in the perfect situation, that should only get better. 

[Mike West]

On 1/23/2025 at 6:13 PM, 30Duck said:

Ward's leadership was in making hero plays all season, not leading the team, again his talent will get him picked, and he'll go to one of the worst teams, we'll see how that works out. Meanwhile, Nix was very fortunate to land in the perfect situation, that should only get better. 

I think that works for Gabriel too.  Murray at Arizona comes to mind.  Size matters if you don't know how to use your talent.  Joe Montana is tiny compared to current NFL QBs.  Gabriel demonstrated how much of a play maker this year.  The right (smart) NFL team will pick him up.  Gabriel can play if he has talent around him.

 

I have always admired Pittsburgh's strategy of picking up NFL talent. They always go to the playoffs.  I used to think Belichick did the same until Brady went to Tampa Bay.  Denver seems to have adapted the same philosophy-stack your team with guys that not only fit your scheme, but pick them up in every round of the draft.  The players will replace the money seekers because they are suited for the style of play.  

 

Let the greedy get the "bag".  Make sure you have a complete team, and the stars are replaced by guys that will be excellent in your scheme because their talent level and capabilities match what works on your team.  Money IS important.  Titles matter more to me.  Brady, Montana, Sanders... those guys gave up some of their salary to pick up enough talent to win Championships.  Winning matters more.  Especially when you are good enough already.  

 

Gabriel has a chance to make an impact if the right team with the right stuff picks him up.

[GatOrlando]

On 1/23/2025 at 7:13 PM, 30Duck said:

 

 

Ward's leadership was in making hero plays all season, not leading the team, again his talent will get him picked, and he'll go to one of the worst teams, we'll see how that works out. Meanwhile, Nix was very fortunate to land in the perfect situation, that should only get better. 

 

I agree with this 100 percent. If Ward goes to the Titans, Browns or Giants I see major issues going forward. Mahomes is often the lazy comparison with top prospects that play hero ball. Except Mahomes only throws off platform when there is no check down available and his team is in dire need of a big play. He throws the ball away a lot otherwise, but he also has one of the best offensive minds in football and he sat for a season behind a quality starter in Alex Smith.

 

Kansas City was also a playoff team prior to Mahomes. The Bears, Jets and Browns haven't had a franchise QB in a long long time. It takes a franchise to build around a guy. Really the only two guys I've seen really elevate a franchise after a long span of mediocrity is Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. But even those franchises had made the playoffs and had some history of drafting decent talent.

 

But I do believe a good coach in college can help a young guy excel earlier than in the old days. Look at Daniels, Maye, Stroud, Penix and Nix. Three of those guys led their team to a playoff their first year. One is playing in the NFC Championship.

 

Maybe Caleb will bounce back under a better coach. Bryce Young seems to be on that route. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold resurrected their careers..So it's really about the character of the person, I just don't see Riley as a grinder. I don't see him pulling a Ryan Day. When the going gets tough...... Two routes are the options.

[Jon Joseph]

USC is not ranked . Is anyone surprised?  NO!

 

USC football fails to crack ESPN preseason top 25 for 2025 season

TROJANSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

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USC football is not in preseason top 25s for 2025. Is anyone surprised?

 

[woundedknees]

On 1/22/2025 at 12:25 AM, GatOrlando said:

I was told USC had an air to them. I always just assumed it was the smog downwind from RIVERSIDE.

Fify

[Jon Joseph]

One USC Icon is back.

 

Raiders hire Pete Carroll as their next head coach.

 

Pete, you don't have the NCAA to worry about. Which is nice.

 

Is 70 years now middle age? I hope so. 

 

The Raiders new GM, John Spytek, (I hope he doesn't use Spy Tech like Bill Belichick ) was the GM at Tampa Bay when Raiders minority owner Tom Brady played for the Bucs and was Brady's teammate at Michigan.

[GatOrlando]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:17 AM, Jon Joseph said:

One USC Icon is back.

 

Raiders hire Pete Carroll as their next head coach.

 

Pete, you don't have the NCAA to worry about. Which is nice.

 

Is 70 years now middle age? I hope so. 

 

The Raiders new GM, John Spytek, (I hope he doesn't use Spy Tech like Bill Belichick ) was the GM at Tampa Bay when Raiders minority owner Tom Brady played for the Bucs and was Brady's teammate at Michigan.

Carroll moves and speaks like a kid does when they are told they're going to Disney for the first time ever. He should be the spokesman for Folgers or Coca Cola. Maybe Red Bull.