David Pollack Names Struggling College Football Powerhouse That Will Have a 'Good Year'

David Pollack Names Struggling College Football Powerhouse That Will Have a 'Good Year' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The 2025 college football season could mark the final year for several notable coaches at their respective universities if they do not achieve better results this season. 

One of those coaches is Lincoln Riley, head coach of the USC Trojans. When he was hired away from the Oklahoma Sooners, many considered it a fantastic choice. During his tenure at Oklahoma, he guided the team to three College Football Playoff appearances and secured four Big 12 championships in just four seasons.

When Riley took over at USC after the 2021 season, the program was struggling, and he was seen as a potential savior. The Trojans had not won 10 games since 2017 and were coming off a disappointing 4-8 season. In his first year, Riley met expectations by leading USC to an 11-3 record and reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game, although they lost 47-24 to Utah. He also helped quarterback Caleb Williams win the Heisman Trophy.

However, the subsequent seasons have not gone as well. USC began the 2023 season with high hopes, as Williams returned as quarterback and the team was ranked No. 6 in the preseason. Unfortunately, the Trojans concluded the season with an 8-5 record, having lost five of their last seven games. The 2024 season began positively with a victory over LSU, but the team ultimately ended with a disappointing 7-6 record.

On his podcast, "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," former Georgia Bulldog David Pollack expressed optimism, stating that he believes the Trojans will bounce back in 2025.

"USC, I think, is going to have a good year," Pollack said.

Pollack did not provide specific reasons for his optimism about USC in the upcoming season. However, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) shares this positive outlook, predicting that USC will finish the season with an 8-4 record and place fifth in the Big Ten, behind the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Michigan Wolverines.

USC received a significant boost when quarterback Jayden Maiava decided to return to school. After taking over for Miller Moss last season, Maiava performed well, throwing for 1,201 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games. 

If Coach Riley can rebound and maintain his position, he is off to a fantastic start with his 2026 recruiting class. The Trojans currently hold the No. 1 ranking in the country for recruiting, with 31 commitments and an overall player grade ranking of No. 8 nationwide.

As long as USC achieves the bounce-back season that Pollack anticipates, the future looks bright for the program.

Related: Paul Finebaum Calls Major College Football Coach a Fraud

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.