USC ranked No. 15 in preseason AP Poll
The USC Trojans will begin the season ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press poll, which was released Monday. USC is one of five Pac-12 teams ranked, with Oregon leading the way for the conference at No. 11, Washington at No. 20 and Utah and Arizona State filling out the top 25 at Nos. 24 and 25, respectively.
The Trojans will play both the Sun Devils and Utes this season, and USC’s other ranked opponent, Notre Dame, opens the season at No. 9.
USC is led by standout juniors in quarterback Kedon Slovis, wide receiver Drake London and outside linebacker Drake Jackson, and brings back eight starters on offense and defense, as well as all three specialists (kicker, punter, long snapper). The Trojans brought in a highly-ranked recruiting class to go along with a number of transfers who will be expected to provide immediate impacts, including running back Keaontay Ingram (Texas) and wide receiver Tahj Washington (Memphis).
The No. 14 ranking in the AP poll fits with USC’s No. 15 ranking in the Coaches’ poll. The Trojans are around the same cluster of teams as well, with Wisconsin, Florida, Miami, LSU and Indiana all surrounding.
USC’s opening opponent, San Jose State, was listed in “others receiving votes” in the Coaches’ poll, but did not receive any votes in the AP poll. As for USC’s other opponents this season, BYU received six votes and would be ranked No. 36. UCLA received two votes, good for a tie at No. 42.
The Trojans finished last season ranked No. 21 in the AP poll.
The complete poll:
- Alabama (47 first place votes)
- Oklahoma (6)
- Clemson (6)
- Ohio State (1)
- Georgia (3)
- Texas A&M
- Iowa State
- Cincinnati
- Notre Dame
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
- Florida
- Miami
- USC
- LSU
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Penn State
- Washington
- Texas
- Coastal Carolina
- Louisiana-Lafayette
- Utah
- Arizona State
