Spring football is over. The transfer portal is closed. The calendar reads June. You know what that means? College football is almost here. It has now been five months since Michigan took down Washington in the national championship game in Houston, and we have made it through the hardest part of the offseason. We are well past the halfway point, and now, there's nothing but excitement to get us to the finish line. We are less than three months away from the start of the college football season, and USC football is ready. Trojans fans can't wait to see their team take the field for the first time.
The 2024 college football season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in a long time, and it's because of all the changes that are coming to the game in 2024. Let's start with the expanded College Football Playoff.
It's going to be interesting to see how the first year of the new 12-team College Football Playoff goes. The four-team playoff era is over, and having eight more teams make it is going to make a huge difference.
First of all, college football fans can breathe a little bit easier during the regular season. There's no worse feeling as a fan than seeing your team lose a huge game in the first weeks of the season before conference play even starts. In the four-team playoff era, that's as demoralizing as it gets. You know that one more loss is the nail in the coffin, and even with one loss (or in Florida State's case, zero), there is no guarantee that you will make it. Now, power five teams that go 10-2 should be pretty safe, and even some 9-3 teams will likely be able to make it.
The other big change is more football and a longer season. The College Football Playoff committee recently released the schedule for the 2024 playoff, and it is going to be an exciting month. Instead of three total playoff games played in the span of a week, we will get to see 11 games spread out over the span of a month. That is going to be a lot of fun.
Another huge change to the college football world this year will be with the new conferences. The Pac-12 is gone as everyone except for Oregon State and Washington State found a new home. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington are now in the Big Ten, Cal and Stanford moved to the ACC, and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are in the Big 12.
The Big 12 did lose two teams, however, as Oklahoma and Texas are making the move over to the SEC.
All in all, big changes are coming to college football, and it should make for an exciting season. Things are going to look different, and not everyone is a fan of the new changes, but there is going to more football and more good matchups. That's a plus.
Lincoln Riley and USC football need a bounce year
One team that has a massive offseason ahead of them is the USC football team. Head coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are coming off of a very disappointing season that resulted in a 7-5 finish. USC was very close to winning the Pac-12 and getting into the College Football Playoff in 2022, but they came up short in the Pac-12 title game. They returned most of their talent from that team, including Heisman winner Caleb Williams, but they took a major step back last year.
When Lincoln Riley took the head coaching job with USC football, it looked like the Trojans were poised for success. However, after last year, some USC fans are beginning to question Riley. The team was loaded with talent coming into the season and expectations were through the roof. The season just didn't pan out, however, and now they are losing Williams to the NFL.
This upcoming 2024 season is a huge one for Lincoln Riley and USC. Another disappointing season like last year could put Riley's job in jeopardy, and things will be much tougher on them this season as they are making the move to the Big Ten. The new-look conference is going to be loaded, and the Trojans have to be ready.
The first window of the transfer portal got USC football pretty good as the Trojans lost some good talent. Domani Jackson, Malachi Nelson, Mario Williams and more hit the portal after last season ended. USC has gotten some good talent in the portal as well, but they ended up losing 29 guys and gaining 15.
USC football lost some of their most talented players from last season, so they will need new guys to step up if they are going to find success in the Big Ten. This is a crucial season for the Trojans. Here is one player that is poised for a breakout season.
Miller Moss, QB
This is the obvious choice, but some people outside of the USC football program don't understand how good Miller Moss can be this season for this Trojans team. Moss has played three seasons with the Trojans now and he has patiently waited his turn behind Caleb Williams the past two years. He easily could've entered the transfer portal and played elsewhere, but he wants to win with USC. Now, his time has come, and he will be the starting quarterback next season.
Last year, Miller Moss got some playing time at the end of blowout games and he got the start in the Holiday Bowl. He went 46-65 on the year for 681 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Most of that was in the bowl game.
Miller Moss showed that he can be a star for USC football last season when he got the start in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville. He went 23-33 for 372 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in that game. The Trojans were unranked, but they beat #15 Louisville 42-28.
A lot of people expected USC to hit the transfer portal to find a new QB, but Miller Moss took advantage of that bowl game start that was essentially a tryout. Head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game that he thinks Moss scared off some potential transfers with that performance. Now, he is going to be the starter.
He might not be Caleb Williams, but Miller Moss showed in the Holiday Bowl what he can do. He is going to have a good year.
Follow Us
Subscribe
