USC Ready For Opener

The team is trying to get rid of the bad taste of how the season finished season. They went 11-3 (8-1 PAC-12) but dropped the conference game and got handled pretty good by a Tulsa team from the American Athletic Conference in the Cotton Bowl.

By Earl Heath 

Contributing Sports Writer

Its all over but the shouting as USC will open the 2023 football season this weekend at the Coliseum.  

They will be taking on San José State of the Mountain West Conference, Last year the Spartans went 7-5 (5-3 in conference) and played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Eastern Michigan 41-27 

 Its the earliest the Trojans have opened a season since 1996, when they did so on Aug. 25 (a 24-7 loss to Penn State in Kickoff Classic XIV in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  

The team is trying to get rid of the bad taste of how the season finished season. They went 11-3 (8-1 PAC-12) but dropped the conference game and got handled pretty good by a Tulsa team from the American Athletic Conference in the Cotton Bowl. 

They are led by Heisman Trophy winner and Walter Camp Player of the year Caleb Williams. 

“I’m very determined. I haven’t been in the College Football Playoff in my two years of playing,” said Williams “It’s been tough. It bothers me because I play for championships. I don’t play for anything else. So not being able to have the chance and being so close frustrates me. This year it’s going to be a good one.”  

The Washington D.C. native is coming off a season where he completed 333-of-500 passes (66.7%) for 4,537 yards and 42 TDs with just 5 INTs, plus he rushed for 382 yards and 10 TDs. He was first nationally in passing TDs (42) and points responsible for per game (22.3). He was third nationally in passing yards (4.537) and fourth nationally in passing yards per game (324.1). He was fifth nationally in passing efficiency (168.5, first in Pac-12) and total offense (351.4). He was seventh nationally in yards per pass attempt (9.1, first in Pac-12). 

Already he is on the has also been named to the 2023 Maxwell Award Watch List, Davey O’Brien Award Watch List and Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List.  

The TROJANS enter the contest ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and 6th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. 

Head coach Lincoln Riley tied a USC record for most victories by a Trojan first-year head coach with 11 (tied with John Robinson in 1976. This also ties the Pac-12 record. 

The Spartans will be led by WR Justin Lockheart, named to the 2023 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team had 36 catches for 578 yards and 1 TD in 2022. 

USC has 6 players who previously attended a Bay Area school: DL De’jon Benton (Pittsburg HS), OL Andres Dewerk (Los Gatos HS), CB Prophet Brown (Monterey Trail HS), RB Austin Jones (Bishop O’Dowd HS), OL Alani Noa (Grant Union HS) and OL Amos Talalele (Santa Clara HS). 

The Trojans must improve the Defense to get better. 

“I’m the leader now,” said Calen Bullock. “My freshman year I watched the older player and I learned from them.”  

The Pasadena (John Muir ) native has 87 tackles, 7 INTs (returning 1 for a TD) and 8 pass breakups while appearing in 26 games with 14 starts during his 2-year career. We know we have to do better this season.”