Why Lane Kiffin, USC Will Win 2012 BCS Title If Matt Barkley Stays

If there is one element in college football that can throw more weight in the fight to win games, it is experience at quarterback.

Surround him with playmakers on offense backed up by a serviceable defense and a team definitely has something to work with entering the season.

For USC's Matt Barkley, he will have an opportunity to come back to school for his senior year and put together a potential BCS national championship-winning campaign. A simple glance at his progression from year-to-year tells a story that should have USC fans excited for the 2012 season.

Steady Growth

Here is a look at Barkley's numbers from 2009 to 2011 (as of 11/19).

2009: 211-of-352, 2,735 yards, 59.9 percent completion, 7.77 YPA, 15 TDs, 14 INTs, 17 sacks, 131.3 QB rating
2010: 236-of-377, 2,791 yards, 62.6 percent completion, 7.40 YPA, 26 TDs, 12 INTs, 16 sacks, 141.2 QB rating
2011: 273-of-404, 3,105 yards, 67.6 percent completion, 7.69 YPA, 33 TDs, seven INTs, seven sacks, 155.6 QB rating

The No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2009 recruiting class has steadily improved in virtually every category since he began his career at USC as a true freshman, so much so that he should warrant some Heisman hype going into the 2012 season.

Helping Hands

Although Barkley, should he return for his senior year, should provide quite the conversation at quarterback for the Trojans, he will have a flurry of weapons at his disposal.

At receiver, between sophomore Robert Woods and freshman Marqise Lee, USC will return over 160 receptions, 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns to a passing attack ranked 23rd in the FBS. Those numbers account for over two-thirds of the Trojans' production through the air.

Meanwhile, USC could see its leading rusher in Curtis McNeal return for his senior season as well, not to mention the up-and-coming D.J. Morgan who likely will fill in for the departing senior Marc Tyler.

All things considered, Barkley will have his fair share of weapons once again in 2012, which will help Lane Kiffin to mount a legitimate Pac-12 title-winning campaign.

A House Divided

With the way the Pac-12 is divided, USC should be the runaway favorites to win the South Division, comfortably placing the Trojans in the conference title game at the end of the 2012 season, putting them in a prime spot not only to claim the Pac-12 Championship, but also potentially punch a ticket to the 2013 BCS National Title Game in Miami, Fla. 

Even this year, the Trojans are in no danger of losing the Pac-12 South. Their closest competition is an UCLA team that is 6-5 overall and 5-3 in conference.

With Stanford losing Andrew Luck this season, Oregon may be USC's lone threat heading into 2012.

The cards are stacked in USC's favor next year, and Kiffin and Barkley have the tools to make a serious run at a title.