Legendary college football publisher Phil Steele thinks USC will rebound this season
The Trojans were in every game last year; unfortunately they did not pull out enough games in clutch situations. They could not catch a break down the stretch. Phil Steele dissected why the Trojans failed to meet expectations last season and why they can contend in the Big Ten this season in a recent interview on the College Football Show with Mark Rogers:
"There was a point prior to the Notre Dame game where I thought they were five plays away from being 11-0. So, they were not far away from being that talented team," Steele said. "And when you look at the schedule this year, they do have to play Illinois, Notre Dame, Oregon on the road. But those are the only three games I have a true underdog in. And most of them only a light underdog. A surprise team is a team that not top 10. Nobody's top 10 that I think has a shot of making the playoff. I think if there is breaks go their way this year as opposed to last year, you might see USC up there contending for the Big Ten."
With a better roster and an even more improved defense with another former NFL coach on staff (Rob Ryan), the Trojans should be a better team which is able to close out these nail-biting games. In addition to that the Trojans also benefit from having a more favorable schedule this season. The Trojans should be able to get work done in the Big Ten and be in competition for a playoff spot.
It is up to this Trojan team to focus on the things they can control and not give up games to their opponent in similar ways as they did last year.
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Top 10 College Football Running Backs in 2025: Jeremiyah Love Headlines List
College Football Top 10 College Football Running Backs in 2025: Jeremiyah Love Headlines List Updated Aug. 19, 2025 3:40 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link FOX Sports Research As the college football season approaches, it's the time of year when fans and analysts alike break down the top players around the country. While quarterbacks reign supreme at any level of football, the running back position has been one with several superstars to emerge in the last decade. With so many incredible players at the position this year, FOX Sports Research ranked the top 10 running backs ahead of the 2025 season. Let's take a look: 2025 Top College Football Running Backs Bryson Washington was one of the top running backs in the Big 12 last season. (Photo by Hannah Kotlarek/Baylor Athletics/University Images via Getty Images) After redshirting in 2023, Washington had a stellar 2024 campaign. He rushed for 1,028 yards on 5.9 yards per carry. He added 217 receiving yards and a touchdown in the passing game as well, helping him earn Freshman All-American honors from multiple publications. Washington's play really took off at the end of the season, though. He rushed for at least 110 yards in each of Baylor's final four regular-season games and in five of its final six regular-season games. He scored 11 of his 12 touchdowns in that stretch. Jonah Coleman was a bright spot for Washingotn in an underwhelming year. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) ADVERTISEMENT The 2024 season might have been disappointing for the Huskies, but it certainly wasn't for Coleman. Following head coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington, Coleman rushed for 1,053 yards on 5.5 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns. He was productive in ranked matchups against Michigan and Indiana, putting up 184 yards over those two games. He was named third-team All-Big Ten as a result. Desmond Reid didn't have many difficulties adjusting to FBS play in 2024. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Reid made a seamless transition from the FCS to FBS in 2024, putting up better numbers at Pitt than he did in his last season at Western Carolina. The third-year running back rushed for 966 yards on 5.3 yards per carry and five touchdowns, adding an impressive 579 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 2024 on top of those numbers. Reid's contributions didn't end on the offensive side of the ball, either. He recorded 159 punt return yards and a punt return touchdown, earning second-team All-American honors from multiple outlets as an all-purpose player. Quintrevion Wisner was a solid contributor for Texas last season after losing CJ Baxter to injury before the year began. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Longhorns keep churning out quality running backs, with Wisner joining that lineage in 2024. 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Hardy was arguably the best running back in the transfer portal this offseason, with Missouri beating Ole Miss and Kentucky to land him. Isaac Brown often had opposing defenders chasing after him in his freshman season at Louisville. (Photo by) After finishing third in the ACC in rushing yards last season, Brown is the conference's leading returning rusher for 2025. In fact, he proved to be one of the ACC's best running backs as a freshman in 2024, rushing for 1,173 yards on an impressive 7.1 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. He rushed for at least 5.5 yards per carry in each of Louisville's three games against ranked opponents last year, putting up 151 yards in its upset win over Clemson. That helped Brown win ACC Rookie of the Year and earn second-team All-Conference honors. 4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State Kaytron Allen is just one half of Penn State's powerful 1-2 punch at running back. 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(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Love was Notre Dame's offensive catalyst in its surprise run to the national championship game last season. He rushed for 1,125 yards on 6.9 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns, adding two receiving touchdowns as well. While his numbers in the postseason might not look great, Love was battling injury at the time. That didn't stop him from taking a run 98 yards to the house in Notre Dame's win over Indiana. Not only is Love our top-ranked running back heading into the 2025 season, but he's also one of FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt's top players entering the year . Klatt ranked Love as his sixth-best player in college football entering the year, saying that he "gives Notre Dame the ability to compete at the top end of the sport. "I don't think we've seen the best of Love yet," Klatt said. "He rushed for over 7.0 yards per carry [before the injury] and is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. 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Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! What did you think of this story? share
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