5. USC

2005 record: 12-1, 8-0 (1st in Pac-10)
2005 bowl: Lost to Texas 41-38 in Rose
2005 final AP/coaches' ranking: 2/2
Coach: Pete Carroll (54-10, 5 years)
Offensive coordinator: Lane Kiffin (2nd year)
Defensive coordinator: Nick Holt (1st year)
Offensive scheme: Multiple
Defensive scheme: 4-3
Returning offensive starters: 4
Returning defensive starters: 5
Location: Los Angeles
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (grass, 92,000)
Last league title: 2005
2006 schedule: [view]
2005 statistics: [view]

Offense: The USC Trojans came within a few feet — the feet of Vince Young, unfortunately — of staging an unprecedented three-peat national championship. Now there’s another history-making task at hand. The Trojans must replace TWO Heisman Trophy winners — quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush — not to mention a pretty fair backfield mate in LenDale White. Leinart’s replacement is junior John David Booty, who has patiently awaited this opportunity, but he underwent back surgery in the spring, clouding his progress. Making matters murkier, highly touted Mark Sanchez was briefly suspended for a sexual assault allegation. Even less certain is the backfield hierarchy, but don’t be shocked if true freshman Stafon Johnson becomes the go-to player. Junior Chauncey Washington, who has battled academic woes, also figures in the equation. There is extreme certainty at wide receiver, where junior Dwayne Jarrett (91 catches, 16 touchdowns) and senior Steve Smith (60 catches) return. Meanwhile, sophomore Patrick Turner is far too talented to remain on the bench. The offensive line retained two building blocks in junior left tackle Sam Baker and senior center Ryan Kalil.

Mike Blake / Reuters It's not a stretch to say that USC junior Dwayne Jarrett is one of the best wide receivers in the nation.

Defense: Last season, this was not an (ahem) strength at USC. Good thing the Trojan offense was all-universe because the defense was continually shredded (with Vince Young adding the exclamation point). The front seven has a decent returning nucleus with junior defensive end Lawrence Jackson, the team’s leading sacker with 10, junior nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, plus outside linebackers Keith Rivers and Dallas Sartz. There’s big-time competition at middle linebacker with Oscar Lua and Rey Maualuga. There’s relative inexperience in the secondary, but the return of cornerback Terell Thomas, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, is a positive.  

Specialists: You don’t replace Bush’s returns — period — but USC has an array of possibilities as replacements. Punter hasn’t exactly been a marquee position in the USC arsenal, but Tom Malone was a great one. Speaking of replacements, now the job falls to Taylor Odegard. USC is about touchdowns, not field goals, but junior place-kicker Mario Danelo only missed one of his 12 attempts last season. 

Game of the year Dec. 4 at Oregon State It’s the 114th edition of the Civil War. Last season, it decided the Pac-10’s entrant into the Rose Bowl. Oregon-Oregon State is one of those chic rivalries, just being discovered by the nation at large. If the last two meetings are any indication (combined 2,035 yards and 173 points), it’s definitely must-see TV.

Coaching: The turnover of last season has been replaced by relative stability. Pete Carroll, 54-10 in five seasons, welcomes back Lane Kiffin for his second year as offensive coordinator. Nick Holt, the former Idaho head coach, becomes defensive coordinator (which had been Carroll’s responsibility). It’s a high-energy staff, taking the lead from Carroll, that is known for aggressive recruiting. Results speak for themselves.

Heisman hopefuls: Jarrett could work himself onto the A-list, although it’s generally more difficult for a receiver to get prime Heisman attention if there are elite quarterbacks and running backs.