Three Toughest Defenses the USC Trojans Will Face in 2023
This week we’re looking ahead at USC’s 2023 football schedule, picking the toughest stretches, matchups and making some predictions. We began with selecting the pivotal three-game stretch in USC’s 2023 football schedule. Then, we looked at the three toughest offenses the Trojans will face in 2023. Now, we’re looking at the three toughest defenses the USC offense will face in 2023.
For this, we’re again getting some help from the post-spring SP+ rankings from Bill Connelly at ESPN. His SP+ rankings take into account returning production, recent recruiting and recent history. They’ve also begun accounting for transfer portal additions, which USC fans have already seen can greatly alter the trajectory of a program in just one offseason.
Truth be told, there isn’t a defense on the 2023 schedule that matches up well with the USC offense. Oregon State last season found a way to give the Trojans some fits. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a surprise team early in the year that can do something similar. But USC scored at least 40 points in 10 games last season and likely would have done it in 11 had Caleb Williams not been injured against Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Still, they’ll need to get it done against some pretty good groups this fall. Here are the three that, on paper at this point, register as the toughest.
3. Cal Golden Bears
It’s a close race for the No. 3 spot here. Washington is No. 48 in ESPN’s Defensive SP+. Oregon is No. 42. But it’s Cal that checks in ahead of both at No. 40 (one spot behind USC at No. 39).
The expectation clearly is that Cal will take a jump up from last season because the 2022 edition was not what a typical Justin Wilcox defense has been with the Golden Bears. Cal finished No. 9 in the Pac-12 in yards allowed per game. They were dead last in the conference against the pass and had just 19 sacks.
Cal brings back just about everybody up front and still has Jackson Sirmon in the middle of the defense. The Bears added former Florida linebacker David Reese as well as a couple of defensive backs in cornerback Nohl Williams (UNLV) and safety Patrick McMorris (San Diego State).
2. Utah Utes
Utah comes it at No. 26 on the SP+ rankings, making the Utes the clear No. 2 defense awaiting the Trojans this season. This is a group that had very few (if any) answers for a healthy Caleb Williams last season but did enough to help Utah to two wins against USC.
Utah finished No. 2 in the Pac-12 in both points and yards allowed per game last season. The Utes were also second in both rushing yards and passing yards allowed per game.
The Utes have to replace Clark Phillips III at cornerback but landed former Ole Miss corner Miles Battle via the transfer portal. Former Stanford linebacker Levani Damuni was a big addition to a front seven that brings back a bulk of its production. Although, defensive end Gabe Reid, who led the team in sacks, and linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, who led the team in tackles for loss, are gone.
Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna is an All-Pac-12 player and safety Cole Bishop is one of the best in the country.
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is No. 15 in the Defensive SP+ rankings as the Fighting Irish check in as the top-ranked defense on USC’s 2023 schedule.
Defensive end Isaiah Foskey is gone, which is good news for the Trojans. But Ohio State transfer Javontae Jean-Baptiste was a big get as a potential replacement. Productive linebackers JD Bertrand, Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau are back for what should be a very veteran defense.
The Trojans didn’t have to deal with veteran cornerback Cam Hart last year as he missed the game due to injury. He’s back along with Benjamin Morrison, who turned in an outstanding freshman season.
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