Power rankings: No. 1 USC
The Trojans return from a two-year bowl ban with a team many people think is capable of winning the national title. There is a lot of offensive firepower, led by Heisman Trophy-favorite quarterback Matt Barkley, who is joined by pair of 1,000-yard running backs (counting the recent transfer of Silas Redd from Penn State), a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and four offensive line starters. The back seven of the defense also returns intact. Depth issues could be a factor because of sanctions-imposed roster limits, but with 19 total returning starters (including kickers), there still is plenty of talent to make a run. USC faces Oregon at home Nov. 3 and could play the Ducks again in the Pac-12 title game Dec. 1.
For more on ESPN.com’s preseason Power Rankings, click here.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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