Foreman must increase his production during his second season, which shouldn’t be hard considering the former five-star only posted 11 tackles in eight games last year.

His development must take center stage in Grinch’s offseason plans, along with teaching the “Speed D” concepts to Tuipulotu and Figueroa.

The trio could form one of the more potent D-Lines in the Conference, but all three must step up their production.

In the secondary, Colorado transfer Mekhi Blackmon must hit the ground running to help replace the production lost from the departures of Chris Steele and Isaiah Pola-Mao.

---

Greatest Strength

Riley’s offense is far and away USC’s greatest strength. The talent at the offensive skill positions is jaw-dropping, with depth and skill that eclipses all other teams in the league.

Williams is one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and should be in contention for the Heisman. The running back room is solid with proven options in Dye and Jones. And the wide receivers are as deep as any Pac-12 team has had in recent memory.

There’s no doubt that the Trojans have the top offense in the Conference of Champions.

---

Biggest Concern

The open question in the offensive line will remain until OC/O-Line coach Josh Henson proves otherwise. But the biggest concern is the SC defense as a whole.

The linebacking corps should be solid with Gentry, Lee, and Goforth leading the way. The projected starters figure to comprise one of the top units in the Pac-12, going far to revitalize the defense’s image under Grinch.

The focal point, however, will be along the line. There is potential in the unit that might be boosted by Grinch’s coaching, but until the production comes to fruition the concerns remain.

Depth issues could emerge and the D-Line could struggle against the likes of Utah, Norte Dame, and Oregon State.

Games are won and lost in the trenches, and USC has questions to answer up front.

---

Deciding Factors

The sole make-or-break factor that could sway USC’s entire season is the play of its offensive line. If the unit doesn’t provide Williams enough time to find his receivers, the efficiency of the offense could come under stress.

Riley may be forced to run the ball more often than he would like, limiting the potency of one of the top QBs in the country.

Mixed with the lack of depth under center, the Trojans could become slightly predictable and one-dimensional if the O-Line underperforms.

There are only so many quarterback hurries and knockdowns that Riley will tolerate, which could result in altered game plans by midseason.

At the same time, the defense’s ability to generate turnovers could go far in shaping the outcome of the year. With an offense expected to be potent, takeaways and additional possessions could be the difference down the stretch.

Fortunately, the SC defense was 45th in the country last year in turnovers forced and shouldn’t fall off under Grinch’s direction.

---

Schedule Analysis

The Riley era begins with a Buy-Game against Rice at the Coliseum.

But the first test of the year comes on the road against Stanford in Week Two. The Trojans are 5-7 against the Tree since the Pac-12 expanded in 2011, putting this game on Upset Alert. Despite the potential for a loss, SC should win by double-digits.

Week Three features a matchup against Fresno State, which should end with a USC victory.

With an opening slate like that, a 3-0 start is a clear expectation.

The year truly begins with a road game against Oregon State in late September. The Beavers have a strong offensive line, an experienced quarterback, and an offense predicated on running the ball. A defeat wouldn’t be much of a shock.

The following two games are winnable matchups against Arizona State and Washington State in LA. The Sun Devils aren’t as strong this season, and Wazzu has only won twice in the Coliseum this century.

Riley and Company then travel to Salt Lake City to take on Utah in what promises to be one of the top Pac-12 games of the season. A road victory is possible, but the game likely ends in defeat.