The USC football team cracked the top 10 in the Big Ten Conference preseason poll, and UCLA is predicted to finish in the bottom half of the conference.
The Trojans are picked ninth and the Bruins are 15th in the annual preseason media poll released by Cleveland.com, which began compiling predictions after the Big Ten ceased to issue a poll 15 years ago.
Twenty-four media members participated, including beat writers from all 18 Big Ten teams.
USC went 7-6 overall last season, 4-5 in Big Ten play.
Lincoln Riley enters his fourth season as the Trojans’ head coach with expectations looming. Eight of USC’s games last season were decided by seven points or less, including a 33-30 overtime loss to Penn State, which was picked first overall in this year’s poll.
Accomplished defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn is back for his second year with USC, while the Trojans will need to make a statement both on the offensive line and at quarterback.
Zach Hanson takes over as the O-line coach this season after last year’s group allowed 21 sacks. Jayden Maiava is expected to start at quarterback this season after former quarterback Miller Moss transferred to Louisville.
Maiava threw for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 91 yards and four touchdowns in seven games last season, taking over as the starter during the season.
UCLA and second-year head coach Deshaun Foster find themselves staring up at most of the conference based on the poll.
The Bruins produced multiple NFL Draft picks last season – including linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Oluwafemi Oladejo – but struggled to win games in their first season in the Big Ten, finishing 5-7 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
The defense loses key pieces like Schwesinger, Oladejo and Kain Medrano, but it’s the offense that will be in the spotlight. UCLA added Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava to its roster in the spring.
The 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with five interceptions for Tennessee last season.
Here’s the complete preseason poll:
No. 1 Penn State (11 first-place votes)
No. 2 Ohio State (10 first-place votes)
No. 3 Oregon (two first-place votes)
No. 4 Illinois
No. 5 Michigan (one first-place vote)
No. 6 Indiana
No. 7 Iowa
No. 8 Nebraska
No. 9 USC
No. 10 Washington
No. 11 Minnesota
No. 12 Wisconsin
No. 13 (tie) Michigan State
No. 13 (tie) Rutgers
No. 15 UCLA
No. 16 Maryland
No. 17 Northwestern
No. 18 Purdue
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