USC Football Preview 2025: Trojans Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players
USC Trojans Key to the Season
Generate more defensive pressure.It's hard to complain too much, considering the 2024 Trojan defense was the best in the Lincoln Riley era, but the pass rush was lacking, and the tackles for loss weren't there at times.The 2023 Trojans generated 85 tackles for loss, and last year's bunch came up with 53. This year's bunch has the talent to crank up a whole lot more.
USC Trojans Key Player
Caden Chittenden, PK Soph.There were several reasons USC lost five games by one score, but out of the seven missed field goals on the season, four came in those losses, including two decided by three points or fewer.Chittenden wasn't perfect, but he earned All-Mountain West honors, hitting 26-of-33 field goals for UNLV. He might not be in the comfort of Allegiant Stadium anymore, but he has the leg to hit from beyond 40 on a regular basis. 2025 USC PreviewUSC Offense BreakdownUSC Defense Breakdown
USC Trojans Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Keeshawn Silver, DT Sr.Enough is enough. How do you improve the defensive front and be nastier against the run? You go take a 6-4, 331-pound anchor from Kentucky. Forget the stats - he won't do anything to get into the backfield - but he's the big body who'll take on everything in the middle.Top Transfer Out: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG Sr.The interior of the USC offensive line isn't exactly a problem, but it'll be an early concern. It could've used a 6-5, 320-pound future NFL starter who'll now be blasting away for the Oregon line.
USC Trojans Key Game
at Illinois, Sept. 27The last time these two met was in the 2008 Rose Bowl. USC rolled to a 49-17 win, but this time it's in Champaign in late September.The Illini are loaded, it'll be a tough battle for the Trojans coming off the Michigan State game, and up next are Michigan and at Notre Dame.Win, and the dream of the CFP is still on. Lose, and forget it.- 2025 USC Schedule Breakdown
USC Trojans Top 10 Players
1. Kamari Ramsey, S Jr.2. Makai Lemon, WR Jr.3. Ja'Kobi Lane, WR Jr.4. Jayden Maiava, QB Jr.5. Keeshawn Silver, DT Jr.6. Eric Gentry, LB Sr.7. Lake McRee, TE Sr.8. DJ Harvey, CB Sr.9. Kameryn Fountain, DE Soph.10. Bishop Fitzgerald, S Sr.
USC Trojans 2024 Fun Stats
- USC Scoring: 1st Quarter 55, 2nd Quarter 125- 3rd Down Conversions: USC 74-for-165 (45%), Opponents 56-for-167 (34%)- Sacks: USC 21 for 113 yards, Opponents 15 for 105 yards
USC Trojans 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
USC, take advantage of this schedule. It's a gift.There's no Ohio State, Penn State, or Indiana. Missing Minnesota is a good thing this year, and not having to play Rutgers, Washington, or Wisconsin will help.No, this isn't a good enough USC team to win the Big Ten, but in an Indiana-got-there sort of way, it has the talent to go 10-2 as long as it can own Los Angeles.The road games at Illinois, Notre Dame, and Oregon will all be a problem. But it's USC. If it's as good as it's supposed to be, it can win two of those. It can handle all the home games, including Michigan.
But the Trojans will misfire somewhere, like against Michigan State, Iowa, or at Nebraska, and it'll come up just short of the CFP dream, but it'll be a fun season deep into November.Set The USC Win Total At … 8Likely Wins: Georgia Southern, Missouri State, at Purdue50/50 Games: at Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, at Nebraska, Northwestern, at Notre Dame, UCLALikely Losses: at Oregon 2025 USC PreviewUSC Offense BreakdownUSC Defense Breakdown
© 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Phillies Predicted to Target Rockies' Jake Bird to Replace Jordan Romano
Phillies Predicted to Target Rockies' Jake Bird to Replace Jordan Romano originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There is one major issue for the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen, and it's been Jordan Romano. While Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games, and a lot of the lower-leverage arms haven't been good, the poor play from Romano has stung the most. Advertisement In the market for more reliever help, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicted that the Phillies could target Colorado Rockies reliever Jake Bird to resolve their back-end of the bullpen problems. While Romano has been unsteady all year, the Rockies have seen Bird blossom into a top-end reliever. In his 33 games in 2025, Bird has pitched 43.2 innings. He's become a multi-inning reliever, something that the Phillies would greatly benefit from amid their shaky bullpen. Bird, in his 2025 season, has been imposing. He has a 2.06 ERA, a 2-1 record, and 2.1 WAR on the season, more than double his previous three years combined. He's struck out 56 batters while walking just 16. He's allowed ten earned runs and two home runs so far this season. His WHIP of 1.191 is also excellent, and his FIP of 2.34 proves his pitching has been as good as it's been. Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) makes a pitching change against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning at Truist Davis-Imagn Images For the Phillies, Bird would be a perfect reliever to target at the trade deadline. The Rockies are the worst team in baseball and would be open to dealing away someone like Bird for some prospects. Advertisement With Bird under team control through the 2028 season, the Phillies wouldn't be getting just a one-year rental like they did in 2024 with Carlos Estevez. Instead, they'd add a cheap, controllable reliever who's shown to be one of the top bullpen arms in 2025. Romano has a 6.51 ERA and a 0-3 record on the year. Bird has a third of his ERA, and has been significantly better for the Rockies, in a ballpark where hitters thrive. He isn't as big of a name as Félix Bautista or Emmanuel Clase, but his production out of the bullpen is equal to that of those two All-Stars. The Phillies need the bullpen, and adding a player like Bird makes a ton of sense. While he may not be a flashy addition, it'd be a perfect one for Rob Thomson, who likes to use his bullpen in a variety of ways. Related: Phillies Predicted to Cut Ties With Mick Abel After Aaron Nola News Related: Phillies Predicted To Target Star RHP To Help Leaky Bullpen This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Phillies Urged to Solve 'Desperate' Bullpen Need By Trading For Pirates' Dennis Santana
Phillies Urged to Solve 'Desperate' Bullpen Need By Trading For Pirates' Dennis Santana originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies have a clear need at the trade deadline: improve their bullpen. Whether it's in the form of multiple arms that can round out the entire bullpen or an elite arm to take over the closer role, the Phillies need to make a move there. Advertisement Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report wrote that the Phillies' most "desperate" need is their bullpen, specifically a high-leverage arm. That high-leverage arm is something the Phillies have needed for some time. "Dombrowski has largely resisted utilizing major resources on the bullpen during his time leading the Philadelphia front office," Kelly writes. "But if the team wants to emerge from a deep National League this October, that's going to have to change." While adding a Felix Bautista or Emmanuel Clase might be challenging, the Phillies could target a journeyman reliever on the Pittsburgh Pirates who would be a nice addition to the current crop of relievers in Philadelphia. Pirates reliever Dennis Santana was one of the names Kelly mentioned as a potential fit for the Phillies. He's in the middle of his second season with the Pirates after joining them partway through the 2024 season. He's been incredible during that time. Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski during Phillies Alumni Weekend and the 20th anniversary of Citizens Bank Park before the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Hartline-Imagn Images He's played with four teams in his career before joining the Pirates, and in Pittsburgh, he's been at his best. Santana has a 2.09 ERA in 73 games for the Pirates since the 2024 season. His best pitching has come in 2025, where he's making a case to be an All-Star. Advertisement Santana has a 1.62 ERA in 33.1 innings of work, with 26 strikeouts and five walks in his 34 appearances in 2025. He's accumulated 1.6 WAR, which is more than the rest of his seven-year MLB career combined. While he hasn't worked out elsewhere, the Pirates reliever has found success at age 28, and now at 29, is thriving in Pittsburgh. There may be some concern if he switches teams again, but his record pitching in Pennsylvania is great. Santana is under team control through 2026 and will be fairly cheap then as well. The Phillies adding Santana would be a more realistic option for the team searching for a reliever if Dombrowski doesn't want to spend a ton on one. Related: Phillies Linked to All-Star Orioles Closer Amid Desperate Bullpen Need Related: Phillies Predicted to Target 2.06 ERA Reliever to Replace Jordan Romano This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diamondbacks sign veteran catcher James McCann to 1-year deal
FILE - Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann (27) looks on during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sept. 7, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) Arizona signed James McCann to a major league contract following his release from the Atlanta Braves, and the 35-year-old catcher joined the Diamondbacks on Monday for their game against the Chicago White Sox. Arizona also designated catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment. Advertisement McCann agreed to a one-year contract for the $760,000 minimum while in the major leagues and $180,000 while in the minors. With 99 days remaining in the season, McCann would receive $404,516 should he remain in the majors the rest of the way. He signed a minor league deal with the Braves on April 8 and was released Sunday, which allowed him to sign with Arizona. Over 41 games with Triple-A Gwinnett, he hit .297 with six homers and 30 RBIs. A second-round draft pick in 2011 by Detroit, McCann has played 11 seasons in the majors with the Tigers (2014-18), White Sox (2019-20), Mets (2021-22) and Orioles (2023-24). He has batted .241 over his career with 92 homers and 373 RBIs. McCann was selected to the 2019 All-Star Game. That season with the White Sox, he set career highs in hits (120), homers (18) and RBIs (60). ___ AP baseball:
