Why Matt Leinart Believes ‘Underrated’ USC Is Constructed for a 2025 CFP Run

Matt Leinart doesn’t need to get too enthusiastic about USC simply but, however there are numerous the explanation why the SoCal icon is feeling notably bullish in regards to the 2025 Trojans and believes they will make the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is chief amongst them. 

Within the newest episode of the “Joel Klatt Present,” Leinart mentioned he’s “in love” with how Maiava has performed up to now to start out the season and believes that he resembles the quarterbacks Lincoln Riley had throughout his time at Oklahoma. 

“He is a pass-first man, which I like, however he can run and make performs, so he can stress a protection,” Leinart mentioned. “He can improvise. He had a fantastic play final week in opposition to Michigan State, the place he had [two rushing] touchdowns. However he is additionally superb from the pocket. He isn’t turning the soccer over. 

“Lincoln lastly has a quarterback, form of like what he had [with] a Baker [Mayfield] and a few of these guys in Oklahoma, that simply suits all the pieces he is doing. And now unexpectedly, we’re seeing all of it come to fruition.”

After all, Maiava isn’t the primary gifted quarterback that Riley has had in his 4 seasons at USC. Caleb Williams gained the Heisman in Riley’s first season at USC in 2022 earlier than changing into the No. 1 total choose within the draft. However Leinart defined that Maiava is a cheerful medium between Williams and 2024 starter Miller Moss, saying that Maiava’s talent set permits the Trojans to play extra inside Riley’s system and run the ball greater than they’ve lately. 

“I feel the quarterback actually issues on this dialogue,” Leinart mentioned. “Woody Marks was improbable, however they’d get away and unexpectedly, it is like they’re throwing the ball 4 or 5 instances in a row. Like, why? Possibly there wasn’t as a lot of a belief on the offensive line, the quarterback play and all of that.”

As Leinart famous, USC has been extremely efficient on the bottom this season. The Trojans are averaging 252.3 speeding yards per sport — Twelfth-most within the nation — and their 7.1 yards per carry ranks second amongst all Energy 4 applications.

Whereas Maiava has contributed to the bottom sport, operating again Waymond Jordan has been the catalyst of the Trojans’ speeding assault up to now. He has rushed for 443 yards on a formidable 7.8 yards per carry, going for 157 yards on 8.7 yards per carry in opposition to Michigan State.

Waymond Jordan (left) and Jayden Maiava have helped USC’s offense to change into one of the vital potent within the nation up to now this season. (Carlin Stiehl/ Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Photographs)

Leinart mentioned that he thinks Jordan has an actual shot at successful the Heisman this season, however he had the offensive and defensive strains among the many high the explanation why this USC group is perhaps completely different from those in latest reminiscence. 

“Offensive line is taking part in rather well. They give the impression of being extra bodily,” Leinart mentioned. “Now, time will inform after they begin to play — they bought Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame arising on the schedule. They give the impression of being extra bodily, I feel. 

“However I feel the line of defense is the most important factor for me and we get an opportunity to see these groups in individual, and typically you may simply inform instantly. You may inform the way in which they give the impression of being, the way in which they transfer, the athleticism. …  USC has lastly gotten to that time. Seeing them this weekend and standing ultimately zone the place the D-lineman and O-lineman go. I am like, ‘Dude, lastly we bought some dudes now.’ They’re younger. They want extra depth and must proceed to recruit, however they bought some guys. 

“I feel the explanation for optimism is we’re quite a bit higher up entrance, on each side of the ball.”

To Leinart’s level, USC has allowed simply three sacks and 16 pressures up to now this season, per Professional Soccer Focus. Final season, the Trojans gave up 15 sacks, however their quarterbacks have been pressured 139 instances over 13 video games.

Defensively, USC has already recorded 16 sacks — tied for probably the most within the nation and simply 5 shy of its whole from all of final season. The Trojans are additionally producing much more strain, averaging 21 quarterback pressures per sport in comparison with 14.3 a yr in the past, per Professional Soccer Focus — a bounce of almost 50%.

Braylan Shelby leads USC in sacks this season with 3.5. (Picture by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)

Including to Leinart’s level, Joel Klatt talked about that the literal dimension of USC’s linemen this yr is larger than final yr’s. The typical weight of USC’s first and second-string defensive linemen this yr is 300 kilos, which is up from their common weight of 278 final yr, Klatt mentioned.

Not solely has that dimension been obvious to Klatt, who will name Saturday’s sport between USC and Illinois (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app), however it’s additionally made the Trojans a sneaky contender. 

“I feel USC is rather more for actual than anyone is giving them credit score for across the nation,” Klatt mentioned. “I feel they’re underrated.”

And whereas Klatt thinks USC is underrated, Leinart isn’t underrating the Trojans’ probabilities to make the CFP.

“I feel they’re a 10-2, 11-1 group in the event that they proceed to play the way in which they’re,” Leinart mentioned. “Let’s imagine they have not performed anyone this and that — they’re dominating in each aspect of the sport, they usually’ve improved in each space of the sport.”

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication day by day!