Football promises exciting 2015


As we enter the final week of classes, I have mixed feelings about the upcoming months. For most college students, summer means getting a job or an internship and discovering a taste of life after college.

But the beginning of summer means we’re that much closer to the end of summer, which means we’re that much closer to football season. As fellow columnist Jake Davidson noted on April 26, it’s been a while since USC has been the team to beat. I don’t know if this will be the year we reestablish our presence at the top, but I do think it’ll be a great year to be a Trojan fan.

Cody Kessler is returning for his senior season after a breakout junior season. He’s already receiving Heisman buzz, though I’m not here to speculate on that. Sarkisian has a season of experience under his belt and, in addition to Kessler, has JuJu Smith, Adoree’ Jackson, Su’a Cravens and a handful of other returners to make plays. They will be joined by a top-ranked recruiting class with plenty of hype to live up to.

That being said, I think it will be difficult for USC to run the table in 2015. It’s definitely possible, but the Trojans have a fairly strong schedule this year.

The Trojans kick off the season with three home games against Arkansas State, Idaho and Stanford. All of those games should be winnable, but Stanford has taken us to the bitter end for the past two seasons. After what should be a battle against Stanford, the Trojans will hit the road to take on Arizona State.

One of the most heartbreaking losses of last season came at the hands of the Sun Devils, who came from behind to beat USC in the Coliseum with a successful Hail Mary. The Trojans will have to play the rematch on the road, but hopefully the bitterness of last season’s loss will give them the edge to come out and win with a vengeance.

After what should be two trying matchups, the Trojans will return home to host Washington. Washington hasn’t been a problem for the Trojans in the past few seasons, but since Sarkisian left to coach USC, Washington has gained an incredible coach in Chris Petersen, who has the potential to turn the team into a Pac-12 powerhouse.

The Trojans handed the Fighting Irish a handy loss last season at the Coliseum and can likely repeat that performance, but you can never underestimate the power of a rivalry game. This time, USC will have to play in South Bend and face the elements, something they struggled with in the rain at Boston College.

After Notre Dame, the Trojans will face Utah, California, Arizona and Colorado.

Utah stunned USC with a late touchdown to win last season, in yet another late-game collapse by the Trojans. The rematch will be at home this year.

Arizona is another Pac-12 team who almost pulled of a late-game win over USC, but the Trojans were able to hold on for the win. That game will also be at home this year, and hopefully give USC the advantage to pull off a much easier win this time around.

In what is the toughest two weeks of the schedule, USC will close the season against Oregon and UCLA.

Oregon is coming off a season in which they competed for a national title and were led by a Heisman-winning quarterback. Unfortunately for USC, the Trojans will have to play in Eugene, but won’t have to face the NFL-bound Mariota. Still, Oregon is a team that rarely falters, even in what should be its rebuilding years.

The Trojans will return home for the last game of the season to host the crosstown rivalry against UCLA. Jim Mora has led UCLA to the top of the Pac-12, and he and the Bruins have easily put the Trojans away the past two seasons. This season, Kessler and the Trojans certainly have a lot to prove, and with a home-field advantage and two years of embarrassing losses to serve as motivation, I think we can close out the season with a W.

A 12-0 or 12-1 season is certainly no guarantee, but I do think that Sark and Cody have what it takes to take the Trojans back to the top of the Pac-12 and all of college football.

So if you’re like most of my friends and are considering passing up on season tickets this year because “football isn’t your thing” or you just “do it for the tailgate,” please reconsider. There will be plenty of exciting games this year that USC will be on the winning side of. Think Stanford 2013. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Regan Estes is a sophomore majoring in public relations and Spanish. She is also the sports editor of  the Daily Trojan. Her column “Wild Wild Westes,” ran on Tuesdays.