The tone is set for the 2024 USC football season. First, let's rewind to his December of 2023…
After the 2023 regular season ended, the Trojans were presented with a unique opportunity. USC is scheduled to face No. 15 Louisville in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, and the Trojans who elected to play in the bowl game came together in a “new team, one game” mentality.
USC's vitriol was on display on national television as the Trojans defeated the Cardinals 42-28.
In modern college football, where instant gratification is sought after and patience is not a virtue, USC QB Miller Moss changed the narrative. After two seasons supporting Caleb Williams (2022 Heisman Trophy winner), who opted to opt out of the bowl game, Moss completed 23-of-33 for 372 yards and six TDs in his first start at USC.
Moss, who was named the Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP, gave the nation a preview of what was to come in the 2024 season and proved that values like hard work and loyalty should not be ignored. Moss, who threw six TD passes, currently holds the record for most TD passes thrown in a Holiday Bowl, most TD passes thrown in a USC bowl game, and his first for most TD passes thrown by a USC QB. It was the Trojans' start and tied for the Pac12 Bowl. Game passing TD record.
USC fans got glimpses of greatness from the program's young players like WRs Jacobi Lane, Deuce Robinson, Makai Lemon and Zachariah Branch, as well as Holiday Bowl defensive MVPs Jaylin Smith and Bear Alexander. I felt a sense of stability from such veterans. As the Trojans stood under the celebratory fireworks at Petco Park, the energy around the program was energized, but there was still work to be done.
These days, one of the most popular tools for making New Year's resolutions is the vision board. A vision board makes our goals concrete, allows us to think deeply about our desires and manifest them into reality.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley created his own version of a vision board when revealing his ultimate defensive coaching staff.
“We put a whiteboard in my office and said our goal is to find the right coordinator, and then we want to find the best developer. Defensive talent, culture, all of that. Who do you think is developing it?'' Riley said. “We ended up with seven names on the board. And it was a dream list – if you could have anyone, who would it be? And ultimately those seven people. We ended up hiring four of them. So we had a pretty good batting average.”
The Trojans brought on defensive coordinator Danton Lynn, who previously served in the same role at UCLA and also coached in the NFL. Lin completely transformed the Bruin defense, lifting UCLA's defense from a ranking of No. 87 in 2022 to finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 11 in the nation. Former Los Angeles Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson has been named assistant defensive coordinator/run game coordinator/defensive line coach. A Super Bowl champion and award-winning coach, Henderson brings his “Dawg Work” philosophy of discipline, attitude, work ethic and grit to establishing a new culture in the defensive line room. Two-time FCS National Championship-winning North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz has been named assistant head coach of defense/linebackers coach. The two-time FCS National Coach of the Year brings a unique perspective to the defensive staff. Former Houston defensive coordinator Doug Belk was brought in by Troy as secondary coach. Berg is considered one of the hottest stars in college football coaching, and every new member of USC's defensive staff is either a defensive coordinator or a head coach.
USC hired former TCU running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr. as running backs coach/run game coordinator after Keil McDonald took a new job with the Los Angeles Chargers. He worked alongside former TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley (Lincoln's younger brother) and helped coach the Horned Frogs to his 2022 College Football Playoff national championship.
2024 schedule
A new era begins for the Trojans as USC enters the Big Ten Conference. New opponents, new stadiums, and a matchup at the Rose Bowl every weekend.
The Trojans are scheduled to play six home games in 2024. In addition to league opponents Wisconsin, Penn State, Rutgers and Nebraska, Troy will welcome non-conference foes Utah State and Notre Dame to the Coliseum. USC will visit Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington and UCLA on the road. The Trojans will open the 2024 season with a neutral site game against LSU at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
USC will have byes on September 14th and November 9th.
The Trojans will face traditional powerhouse LSU in the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic on September 1st. This will be the third time LSU and USC have met in football. USC won 17-12 in the first meeting between the two teams in 1979 at Tiger Stadium in what is considered one of the greatest games of all time. In the 1984 rematch at the Los Angeles Coliseum, LSU won by a 23-3 margin.
USC returns to Los Angeles on September 7th for its home opener against Utah State. The Trojans' first Big Ten game will be at the Big House, a fitting setting for such a debut. USC will travel to Michigan State (along with new head coach Sherone Moore) on September 21st for an iconic game that will begin a new era of Trojan football. The Trojans are 6-4 against the Wolverines, winning 32-18 in the 2007 Rose Bowl. The Trojans will then return to the Coliseum to host Wisconsin on Sept. 28. USC holds a 6-1 record against the Badgers, but last lost 21-23 in the 2015 Holiday Bowl.
Another road game awaits the following week as USC visits Minnesota on October 5th. The Trojans have a 6-1-1 record against the Gophers, last meeting in 2011 when they won 19-17 at the Coliseum. USC returns home on October 12th to take on a familiar opponent, the Penn State Nittany Lions. USC is 6-4 against Penn State, last losing 52-49 in 2017, in arguably one of the most iconic Rose Bowl games of all time. The Trojans will then return East for their first matchup against Maryland on Oct. 19. The University of Southern California will conclude October by welcoming another new opponent, Rutgers, to the Coliseum on October 26th.
USC heads to Washington (along with new head coach Jed Fisch) for a familiar matchup on November 2nd. USC currently holds a 51-30-4 series record against Washington, excluding Troy's 2005 victory that was nullified due to NCAA penalties (original record was 52-30-4) ). On Nov. 16, the Trojans host Nebraska at the Coliseum. USC is 3-0-1 against the Cornhuskers, winning 45-42 in the 2014 Holiday Bowl. Finally, USC heads to the Rose Bowl to take on crosstown rival UCLA (new head coach Deshaun Foster) to close out Big Ten Conference play on November 23rd. USC leads the series over UCLA 50-33-7, with the exception of Troy in 2004 and Troy in 2004. Number of wins in 2005 nullified due to NCAA penalties (original record: 52 wins, 33 losses, 7 draws). USC returns to the Coliseum for its final home game of the 2024 season against Notre Dame. The biggest rivalry in college football will take place on November 30th.
The 2024 season will conclude with the annual Big Ten Football Championship Game to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on December 7th, pitting the top two teams in the overall conference standings against each other at the end of the regular season. Winner gets big prize money. Ten Championship.
