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USC football seeks a stronger start in 2025 after 2024 September stumbles

After back-to-back seasons of five or more losses, USC football is looking to turn things around in 2025. However, doing so will not be easy, as the Trojans play a schedule that includes Oregon, Notre Dame, and Michigan. One thing USC does have going for it, however, is the start. The Trojans open with four games that by all means, they absolutely should win. It will not be until a month into the season when USC faces its first true test. Advertisement College football analyst Josh Pate of CBS Sports has taken note of this. On a recent episode of his national college football show, Pate named USC as a "hot-start candidate" for 2025. "Which teams could really start fast this year?" Pate said. "USC's one of them . . . USC will be, I think, solidly favored in their first four games. "They're gonna win their first two games [vs. Missouri State and Georgia Southern]. And then they're on the road in the Big Ten, but it's Purdue . . . they should win that game. Michigan State, at home, they should win that game. "It won't be until at Illinois . . . their fifth game, where the country may watch them. And then you'll really get your first look at them nationally week seven—it's their sixth game—when Michigan comes to town. Advertisement "Honestly they could be 5-0 when they play Michigan. And they play Michigan at home. They could be 6-0 when they go to Notre Dame [the following week], they could be 5-1 even when they go to Notre Dame. That would still be a huge game." USC fans are certainly hoping that this indeed comes to fruition, and that the Trojans start the year off hot. However, as 2023—when USC started off 6-0 but then lost five of its final six regular season games—showed, just starting off hot is not enough. The Trojans will need to continue to play winning football throughout the season if they want to convince people that the program truly is turning around for the better. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football needs to rise where last season's team stalled