What Penn State fans should expect from USC in 2025

It has never been harder to pin down the USC Trojans than during the Lincoln Riley era. One of the great offensive minds of the modern era was expected to get USC back to their '90s heydays and with him bringing in eventual Heisman winner Caleb Williams, it certainly looked like USC could reach the mountaintop yet again. A promising Holiday Bowl performance from Williams' successor, Miller Moss confirmed that Riley still might have the magic touch when it came to quarterbacks. Then 2024 happened. After a thrilling victory to start the season against LSU, Moss was not entirely capable of recapturing that Holiday Bowl magic, and USC badly faltered down the stretch in their first season in conference play. Now, after Moss' transfer, Jayden Maiava will take the reins in a new-look offense Riley is hoping can get things going so his tenure in LA isn't short-lived. Here is how the USC Trojans are shaping up for 2025.

2024 in Review

USC certainly was not terrible in their losses throughout the season. They just could have closed out games a bit better as well. USC's 2024 season, therefore, was not as bad as it looked on paper. Yes, there is the 1-4 record on the road in one of the toughest road conferences in the country. There is also their record in said conference, at just 4-5. Worst of all, though, is how they lost some of these games. After a thrilling, potentially tone-setting win over LSU, their record in close games was all downhill. Allowing a touchdown to Michigan back Kalel Mullings with 37 seconds left in their first-ever Big Ten conference game. Allowing Tyler Warren to go off in the second half of their game at home to Penn State. Even blowing a 14-point lead to lowly Maryland topped everything off. A bowl game win over Texas A&M probably wasn't even enough to dissuade fans from panic.

At the very least, USC now knows what is at stake within the conference. The Big Ten is going to be even more competitive than ever, and with a QB who only started in four games last year, and a team itself that is still relatively young, there will be no margin for error or easy games for this new-look squad now. Perhaps 2024 was a vital lesson and stepping stone in both USC's transition to the Big Ten and in its growth and maturation as a team.

Head Coach Profile

Lincoln Riley has all the pedigree he needs to be USC's head coach and the head coach tasked with getting USC back to the championship level they expect. He just has not proved it in his first three years. Sure, he has mentored three Heisman winners, one being Caleb Williams in his first year at USC, and still his most impressive to date. He also has three CFP appearances to his name with Oklahoma. The question remains: Why isn't that success further translating to USC's performance on the field? Yes, while Caleb Williams most certainly won't be walking through the door, the onus is on Riley as a "quarterback whisperer" to find his successor. Moss is now not that option, and a lot of blind faith is being placed in Jayden Maiava.

Another question needs to be asked: Are we sure Riley will return the program to championship-level success? After all, Riley is only 3-4 in bowl games and an abysmal 0-3 in CFP games. Thus, don't expect Riley's job to be as secure as you think if USC has a successful 2025. All cards are on the table for USC and Riley, and wherever the wheel of fortune may spin, it may be a very hectic offseason for the Trojans with another down year from Riley.

Top Offensive Player

Naming USC's top offensive option for 2025 just got a lot harder with the departure of a lot of key stalwarts from last season. Running back Woody Marks is off to the NFL and replaced by a largely unknown entity at the FBS level in JUCO transfer Waymond Jordan. Miller Moss is off to Louisville, replaced by a highly capable Jayden Maiava, but a Maiava who has only started four games for the Trojans. If there is any hope for high-end offensive production that is close to a guarantee, take your pick between the two returning receivers with the stats to back them up. While Makai Lemon wins the yardage stats battle with 764 receiving yards, Ja'Kobi Lane had more touchdowns than any Trojans receiver last year with 12. It purely comes down to how I view Riley setting up this offense for success and who Maiava may prefer throughout the season.

Lemon certainly seems like the top option with that assessment. With his elite catch radius and detailed route tree, he seems like the more safe option as well for Maiava to further develop in his offense. Look for him to excel in the intermediate areas of the field, especially when he works the middle, as Maiava will want to make as many easy throws as possible to settle himself early in games. I would not be surprised if Lemon eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and with ease.

Top Defensive Player

Transfer reinforcements are on the way to make USC's defense could be much improved, especially along the front seven. The best player overall remains in the secondary. Kamari Ramsey certainly has been a beacon of hope on the defensive side of the ball, which has struggled mightily at times in the Lincoln Riley era. With his fundamental talents in the tackle and sound coverage skills, the ever-reliable safety will continue to be the backbone for a secondary in transition.

It is not that players like DJ Harvey and Bishop Fitzgerald, who are transferring in, will not have an impact. It is the trust that Ramsey has earned that makes him the standout on the back end for the Trojans. His 60 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2 sacks and five pass breakups got him an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Player of the Week status for his breakout performances all season long. His season-opening 9 tackles against LSU set the benchmark. It was his 10-tackle performance against Penn State that stands out above them all. If he can continue this trajectory, not only will he earn himself a potentially higher draft pick next year, but he will help his team drastically mature in an area where maturity is needed.

2025 Schedule Preview

USC doesn't necessarily have the hardest gauntlet in the Big Ten this year, but they certainly have season- and CFP-defining games that will tell us all we need to know about their growth as a squad. An easy three-game slate to start the season is not going to be telling enough. Their third conference game will. An Illinois squad looking to make headway as a serious Big Ten and CFP contender welcomes USC to Champaign in what will be Maiava's toughest test to date as a young QB. Unfortunately, the schedule does not let up. They welcome former No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood and what should be one of the most improved squads in the Big Ten in Michigan to the Coliseum for what could be a thriller between two former highly coveted recruits. And still, the schedule gets ever tougher. They must go into the home of the 2024 CFP runners-up and take on yet another exciting recruit in CJ Carr. Iowa in Week 10 and Oregon in Week 11 before Rivalry Week against UCLA is another three-game gauntlet. If they can navigate those bumps smoothly, then that will be marked progress for them this year.

Overall, while USC certainly has a tough schedule, they have the benefit of not playing the most experienced teams in the conference. By missing both Penn State and Ohio State, every single one of their opponents will be breaking someone in. Michigan with Underwood. Notre Dame with Carr. Iowa with Gronowski. And Oregon with Moore. If USC can swing some of those one-score games to their favor, the ball could well and truly be rolling for Lincoln Riley and his Trojans.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: What to expect from the USC Trojans in 2025