USC Football: 5 Reasons Troubled Trojans Will Win the Pac-12 in 2011

The USC Trojans learned this week that the NCAA won’t be reducing the severe penalties imposed on the football program as a result of myriad violations. Having already served one season of postseason ineligibility, the Trojans will have to battle through one more season without a bowl game and three years of reduced scholarships.

Hope, however, may not be far away. Even with the sanctions already looming over them, last year’s squad went a respectable 8-5 and seven starters are back on each side of the ball.

With Matt Barkley poised to prove he belongs in the exalted lineage of USC signal-callers and a collection of talented skill players around him, the 2011 Trojans are going to be a dangerous sleeper team in the first year of the Pac-12.

Read on for five reasons USC has a shot to upset conference powers Oregon and Stanford and claim the inaugural Pac-12 title.

5. Reloaded Receiving Corps

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 27: Wide receiver Robert Woods #13 of the USC Trojans carries the ball against cornerback Darrin Walls #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Notre

The loss of big-play threat Ronald Johnson won’t do the Trojans any favors, but USC’s receiving corps could actually be even more dangerous in 2011. Robert Woods is back after leading the team in receptions and yards last year, but the bigger news is in the recruiting class.

Rivals.com 5-star pick George Farmer is the gem of the Trojans’ recruiting class. He’ll be joined by a pair of other talented newcomers in Victor Blackwell and Junior Pomee.

With top contenders Stanford and Oregon each having graduated their leading receivers, USC could have the best group of wideouts in the conference.

4. Schedule Gives Trojans Some Breaks

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Cody Hawkins #7 hands the ball to teammate Rodney Stewart #5 of the Colorado Buffaloes during their game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Colorado 45

In the first season of the reconstituted Pac-12, the Trojans are one of the teams that will have the good fortune of facing both of the conference’s new arrivals.

Colorado (coming off a disappointing 5-7 season) and Utah (coming from a lower level of competition in the Mountain West) will likely struggle in their Pac-12 debuts, and USC will be ready to take advantage.

The Trojans also get one of the decisive games of the season, against Stanford, at home. With the Cardinal the preliminary favorites to knock off Oregon (who must travel to Palo Alto), a USC win over Stanford could give them the edge they need in the conference title hunt.

The one catch for the Trojans is that they must face the Ducks in Eugene, where Oregon (who pasted USC 53-32 last year) rarely loses.

3. T.J. McDonald Leads Veteran Secondary

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: T.J. McDonald #7 of the USC Trojans makes an interception in front of Spencer Ladner #45 of the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, Californi

The 2010 edition of the Trojans defense had more than its share of problems. In four of USC’s five losses last year, they allowed more than 30 points.

The good news for USC is that, in a conference with the likes of Andrew Luck, Darron Thomas and Nick Foles at QB, the Trojans’ strength will be their secondary. All-conference safety T.J. McDonald is one of three returning starters in the defensive backfield.

McDonald, whose father Tim was an All-American safety for USC, led the team in tackles last season. With his leadership, the Trojans defense has a good shot to keep from losing games that the Trojans offense is good enough to win.

2. USC Will Have Balanced Offense

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Marc Tyler #26 of the USC Trojans rushes the ball during the game against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The 2011 Trojans aren’t going to make anyone forget Matt Leinart or Reggie Bush, but they will have one advantage those stars brought to USC. The Trojans offense will be able to make teams pay if they overcommit against either the run or the pass.

QB Matt Barkley grabs most of the headlines, but tailback Marc Tyler was just as impressive in 2010. Tyler, the son of former Rams standout Wendell, heads into his senior year off a strong 913-yard, nine-TD season.

With three starters back on the offensive line, both Barkley and Tyler will get plenty of chances to shine next season.

1. Matt Barkley Ready for Prime Time

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans rolls out of the pocket against the Oregon Ducks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

A great quarterback can make up for a multitude of sins in college football, and USC should have one in 2011. Matt Barkley is ready to join the ranks of college football’s elite.

Barkley impressed in his second season as the starter, taking his TD/INT ratio up from about 1:1 to slightly better than 2:1. After near-miss losses against Washington and Stanford last season, he should be ready to take the next step and start winning games by himself.

Even if Barkley winds up as only the Pac-10’s third-best QB (behind Andrew Luck and Darron Thomas), he could be the QB who wins the conference championship by season’s end.