Former Trojan Matt Leinart is hopeful about USC football this year
In a recent article, Charlie Viehl with USC Trojans on Sports Illustrated highlighted Leinart's exact feelings of optimism this season, noting what the Trojans need to do to be a top team in the Big Ten
"(Ashley) Adamson asked Leinart about his thoughts on USC's upcoming season, and Leinart revealed his expectations for USC coach Lincoln Riley in 2025.
"You look at USC, UCLA. I mean, both teams need to get better. USC in particular. I'm actually very interested in this year. They made huge strides on defense a year ago. I think that we saw that. They were so close last year in a lot of games, and you can't have excuses. But those plays go the different way, maybe they're 10-3 and in a playoff or 10-2 an in the playoffs, so they need to learn how to finish."
As for how to fix USC's problem of finishing close games? The former Trojans quarterback talked about how Riley and the current coaching staff is emphasizing it over the offseason.
"I always say this and Pete Carroll at USC, our whole program was built on finishing. Whether it was schoolwork, whether it was in the gym, whether it was meetings just be the best and finish until the very end. You start to develop that mindset," Leinart said. "I know that's kind of been a big thing for them this offseason. Hopefully that translates into the games. I think they're preseason ninth (in the) poll, which means nothing, but people are gonna overlook them this year. I think they're going to be pretty good," the former Trojan continued.
How far will "pretty good" get in this year's Big Ten?
To Leinart's point, the Trojans did take a massive step forward with the addition of Rob Ryan. This defense should be even better this season. This new and improved defense should help them finish games. With more stability at quarterback and with elite weapons, the Trojans are aiming to right all of last season's wrongs.
The Trojans should not be overlooked this season with everything they have, but maybe for Lincoln Riley and the rest of the team, that is exactly how they should want it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
MSU pegged as one team to decline, fail to meet last season's standard in recent article
Is Michigan State basketball in for a decline next season? One CBS Sports writer believes so... CBS Sports released an article this past week that dived into a number of teams that "will struggle to meet last season's standard" and Michigan State made the list. The Spartans are coming off a Big Ten title winning season and Elite Eight finish in the NCAA Tournament, and Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports is not expecting Michigan State to match that same kind of success during the 2025-26 season. "Richardson's departure does open the door for Michigan State to slide back to the rest of the pack in 2025-26," Trotter wrote. "College basketball can be cyclical, at times, and Michigan State has been hit with some unexpected tremors this offseason. The writing was on the wall with the dynamic Richardson down the stretch, but Tre Holloman's abrupt decision to transfer to NC State stung, too." Trotter did, however, note that Michigan State still has a high-floor and that there is still plenty to be excited about for the Spartans next year. "Make no mistake, Michigan State still has a high floor. Its blanketing 3-point defense isn't going anywhere," Trotter wrote. "(Carson) Cooper, (Jaxon) Kohler, (Coen) Carr and incoming freshman forward Cam Ward should help the Spartans keep smoking teams on the glass. (Jeremy) Fears single-handedly is a fast-break machine who should take a healthy step forward with a full, healthy offseason. Defense, rebounding and a turbo transition offense is a good recipe to be competent, and there are some real upside plays in Carr (future NBA player), Ward (who looks built in a lab to play for Izzo) and sophomore Kur Teng (baller)." So it sounds like Trotter is expecting Michigan State to make the NCAA Tournament yet again this season, but just don't expect to win the conference and be a true National Championship contender. That aligns with most (including myself) in this point of the offseason. The other teams expected to drop off from last season that were listed in the article were Saint Mary's, Maryland and Clemson. Click here to read the full article from Trotter and his complete breakdown on why he believes the Spartans will regress next season. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tobias Raymond is now a key cog — and de facto grillmaster — on uncertain USC offensive line
When he first offered to man the grill, Tobias Raymond had no intention of holding onto the role. He was not, by any stretch, a connoisseur of grilled meats. Nor was he experienced cooking over an open flame. Yet this was the offensive line's first summer barbecue, and somebody on USC's offensive line needed to step up. So Raymond, the Trojans' redshirt sophomore right tackle, volunteered. He didn't know what he was getting into at the time because what started as a gathering of linemen eventually, by its fourth iteration or so, had evolved into a full-blown team bonding event. That meant grilling up hundreds upon hundreds of hot dogs and hamburgers. And Raymond, by virtue of being the first to volunteer, had become the de facto grillmaster. It wasn't the sort of role Raymond might've willingly embraced three years earlier, when he first arrived at USC as raw talent at offensive tackle. Since then, Raymond has developed into one of the Trojans' most trusted linemen, a critical cog at an otherwise uncertain position for USC. As he stood behind the grill this summer, flipping burgers, his fellow linemen could see just how much had changed during that time. 'He held it down all summer,' center J'Onre Reed said. 'He's standing there with his shirt off, flexing like he's Captain America. He loves it, man.' It wasn't long ago that Raymond tried to actively avoid that sort of attention. Read more: USC trusts new strength coach Trumain Carroll to help Trojans open and finish strong 'He was the type of guy who would lead by example and be the hardest worker on the field, not necessarily speak up,' said Tim Garcia, Raymond's coach at Ventura High. But on the football field, he had a way of turning heads. He played with a mean streak that stood in total contrast to his chill demeanor off the field. At Ventura High, coaches marveled at his ability to finish blocks and his willingness to push through the whistle. In high school, Raymond could afford to get by with brute force. He was so athletic for his position that Garcia and his staff gave Raymond some run at tight end ahead of his senior year, just to see what he could do. That athleticism was enough to convince some college coaches right away of his future in football. But Raymond still had a lot to learn as an offensive tackle. His technique needed work. 'He was still very green, very raw as an offensive lineman,' Garcia said. Not everyone wanted to pour the time into developing Raymond that would be required. Even USC took until six months before signing day to offer. 'There were some coaches who came on board who were not interested in Tobias,' Garcia said. "Then others said, 'Well, this guy has it all. I can do this with him, that with him.'' Raymond wanted the whole recruiting process over as quickly as possible. He took one official visit to California the summer before his senior year and told Garcia right after that he wanted to commit. Just to get it over with. Three days later, USC offered. Raymond didn't want to go for the visit at first. He'd seen USC once before, on an unofficial visit. He figured that was enough. He didn't want to make a fuss. But Garcia convinced him to go through with it. Read more: Times of Troy: Seven things to look for at fall camp for USC football That Sunday, after the visit, Raymond called Garcia. 'And he says, 'Hey coach, would it be OK if I commit?'' It would be a while after that before Raymond finally made his mark at USC. He was slow to develop as a freshman and redshirted. In his second year, he was thrust into action in eight games, speeding up that process. Still, he tried to fly under the radar. 'I think that was one thing I really needed to work on, saying things when I thought it was the right time,' Raymond said. 'I was always really quiet as a freshman and sophomore, just getting into college and learning how it goes. But I feel like I'm in a spot where I can start being a more vocal person.' It was in the run-up to USC's bowl game last December that coaches could sense Raymond finally getting comfortable, on the field and off. His progress accelerated from there. When Zach Hanson took over coaching the offensive line, he kept challenging Raymond to tweak his technique. Every time, he says, Raymond had it corrected within a play or two. 'He's not afraid to try different things,' said Hanson, who's entering his first year as USC's offensive line coach. 'A lot of guys get hesitant to do that. But he's a pro at his craft.' He's still getting the hang of being a leader in the room. But what might've felt unnatural to him not that long ago, he says, is starting to feel like second nature. Thinking back on where he started, USC coach Lincoln Riley called Raymond's transformation 'radical in every way.' Now no one in the building bats an eye when Riley declares Raymond to be 'one of the best players on the team.' That's what Riley will need Raymond to be this season, if USC hopes to hold up along an otherwise thin offensive front. He's expected to play right tackle to start the season. But his teammates and USC's coaches have expressed confidence that Raymond could playany position on the line, if need be. That might have, at one point, seemed like a worrisome proposition. But Reed, the Trojans new center, saw all he needed to see this summer while watching Raymond preside over the most important job at the barbecue. 'It was hot, and he didn't have no problem sitting there sweating,' Reed said. 'He's got it, bro. He definitely did the thing.' Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
MSU hoops lands in middle of pack in recently released Big Ten power rankings
See where the Spartans landed in a recent batch of Big Ten men's basketball power rankings A popular college basketball social media account has Michigan State as a middle of the pack team in the Big Ten. College Basketball Report -- a popular social media account on X -- released "way too early" power rankings for all of the power five conferences, and they aren't high on the Spartans winning the league again next season. College Basketball Report has Michigan State ranked as the No. 7 team in the league -- which is one spot below Iowa and one spot ahead of Oregon. Check out the complete rankings in the post below: This honestly isn't a bad breakdown of the Big Ten, from my point of view. I personally would have Michigan State ahead of both Iowa and Ohio State, but I also think we are splitting hairs with any teams outside of the top three (Purdue, Michigan and UCLA) in the second tier of the league. At this point in the offseason, I'd have Michigan State essentially on the same level as Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, Oregon, USC, Wisconsin and Indiana for that second tier of teams. Around this time last year, Michigan State was a in similar spot and they ended up exceeding expectations en route to winning the Big Ten and reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Hopefully, we see that same kind of lift from the Spartans this upcoming season too. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
