USC drew the unluckiest Big Ten schedule
Context
The show's USC read extends the prior schedule-utility framing. The opponent list is rough by itself: Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland, and UCLA after the three-game ramp. The bigger problem is timing. Oregon gets Portland State before USC, Ohio State and Indiana have byes before USC, and several other opponents avoid major immediate lead-in stress.
The show still likes the roster and offensive possibilities. Jayden Maiava, Tanook Hines, receiver depth, running back health, and Gary Patterson's defensive influence all create a real good-team case. But the schedule is so unforgiving that even 9-3 might be a playoff-quality season, and even a talented USC team has to answer a sustainability question through the gauntlet.