Summary of "Colin Cowherd Podcast - College Football Reaction: USC’s Season In Review + 2025 Outlook, Trojans Need A GM!"
Podcast Information:
- Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
- Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
- Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
- Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast - College Football Reaction: USC’s Season In Review + 2025 Outlook, Trojans Need A GM!
- Release Date: December 28, 2024
Introduction
In the December 28, 2024 episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," host Doug Gottlieb dives deep into the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans' recent football season, offering a comprehensive review and projecting the team's outlook for 2025. A significant focus of the discussion centers on the pressing need for USC to hire a General Manager (GM) to elevate the program to elite status.
USC’s Season Performance
Gottlieb begins by evaluating USC’s performance throughout the season, highlighting key victories and critical losses.
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Key Victories: USC secured important wins against LSU (8-4) and Texas A&M (8-4), demonstrating their capability to compete against strong teams. Gottlieb remarks, “You beat 8 and 4 LSU to start and you beat 8 and 4 Texas A&M” ([02:50]).
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Critical Losses: The Trojans faced a tough overtime defeat against Penn State, a team vying for the national championship. Gottlieb notes, “You lost in overtime to a Penn State team that's vying for the national championship” ([04:10]). Additionally, losses to Maryland, Rutgers, and Washington were discussed, highlighting areas needing improvement.
Coaching Analysis: Lincoln Riley
A substantial portion of the podcast is dedicated to head coach Lincoln Riley's strategies and leadership.
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Strategic Decisions: Gottlieb critiques Riley’s decision-making, particularly his move away from the running game during critical moments. He states, “I did not like them moving away from the running game at the end of the first half and early in the third quarter” ([05:00]).
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Contract and Investments: Discussing the financial and structural investments in the program, Gottlieb mentions, “They put 300 million into the facilities. The collective's up to 18 million” ([04:30]).
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Need for a GM: Gottlieb argues that while Riley is a strong coach, the program lacks a dedicated GM to handle operations and player acquisitions. He asserts, “To me that's not good enough. If you want to compete with the big boys, you have to go hire a former NFL GM” ([06:15]).
Player Evaluations
Gottlieb offers detailed assessments of key players, both current and incoming.
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Brian Jackson (Running Back): Highlighted as a standout freshman, Jackson is praised for his physicality and game impact. “I think they've really found he looks like the most formidable power back they have had since the Pete Carroll era” ([07:20]).
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Jaden Maava (Quarterback): Maava is evaluated for his inconsistency but recognized for stepping up under pressure. “He's a little too reckless for my taste, but he's a sophomore and from UNLV to USC, he stepped up in competition” ([08:45]).
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Offensive Line: Gottlieb expresses optimism about USC’s offensive line, commending players like Elijah Page and Justin Tuanu. “I really honestly feel good about the offensive tackle position for the first time in maybe 12 to 15 years between Page and Raymond” ([10:30]).
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Defensive Line: The defensive line receives criticism for lacking NFL-caliber bodies, although incoming transfers like Jamal Jarrett and Keyshawn Silver provide some hope. “We just don't have enough left tackle, NFL Sunday bodies in the program” ([12:10]).
Recruiting and the Transfer Portal
Gottlieb discusses USC’s reliance on the transfer portal under Lincoln Riley’s tenure.
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Transfer Strategy: “The first year Lincoln Riley had the program, the first two years, it was very much about the transfer portal” ([13:25]).
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Local Recruiting Concerns: He expresses disappointment with Southern California recruiting, suggesting that the regional talent pool may not be sufficient to sustain long-term success without broader recruiting efforts.
Future Outlook: 2025 Season
Looking ahead, Gottlieb analyzes USC's upcoming schedule and strategic positioning.
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Schedule Strength: The 2025 schedule is deemed more manageable compared to the previous year. “The schedule's weaker next year” ([15:40]).
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Big Ten Transition: Transitioning to the Big Ten, USC will face teams with strong offensive and defensive line strengths. Gottlieb believes this shift plays to USC’s favor with their solid offensive line. “The Big Ten has the big bodies, and that’s what USC needs” ([17:05]).
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Playoff Aspirations: Emphasizing the importance of building a competitive team early in the season, Gottlieb advises prioritizing winnable games to secure momentum for playoff contention. “Focus on securing winnable early games to build momentum for playoff contention” ([18:15]).
Recommendations for USC
Gottlieb offers several recommendations to enhance USC’s football program:
- Hire a General Manager: Bringing in an experienced GM with an NFL background to manage operations and player acquisitions.
- Strengthen the Defensive Line: Continue recruiting larger, more robust defensive linemen to bolster the team’s interior defense.
- Quarterback Development: Further develop Jaden Maava or consider potential transfers to secure a more stable quarterback presence.
- Optimize Scheduling: Focus on an early-season schedule that allows USC to build confidence and avoid early-season injuries by scheduling less challenging opponents.
Conclusion
Doug Gottlieb wraps up the episode with a balanced view, acknowledging USC’s strengths while highlighting critical areas for improvement. He remains optimistic about the potential for USC to ascend to elite status in college football, provided they address the outlined challenges.
Notable Quotes:
- “To me that's not good enough. If you want to compete with the big boys, you have to go hire a former NFL GM.” ([06:15])
- “I think they've really found he looks like the most formidable power back they have had since the Pete Carroll era.” ([07:20])
- “We just don't have enough left tackle, NFL Sunday bodies in the program.” ([12:10])
The episode serves as a thoughtful critique and roadmap for USC’s football program, offering valuable insights for fans and stakeholders looking to understand the dynamics influencing the team’s present and future performance.