USC's place as a top-tier college football program is slipping

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

USC football is one of the great all-time programs in college football. However, the Trojans have won exactly one conference championship and one Rose Bowl since the 2008 season. Both achievements were forged by new and reigning Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold. Because USC has gotten stuck the past 18 years, the Trojans are no longer viewed as a top-five program by experts. USA TODAY Sports put USC at No. 10 in its latest rankings of the nation's best programs:

"The dominant power in the Pac-12 through the Pete Carroll tenure, the results haven’t been there for USC since NCAA violations hammered the program. It still hasn't made the College Football playoff, and the transition to the Big Ten hasn't been smooth. Things may be looking up after a nine-win 2025 season and the arrival of one of the nation’s top-ranked signing classes. Still, they have several rungs to climb before reaching the top of the Big Ten," the article explained.

USC is behind Michigan and Ohio State among Big Ten schools in these football program rankings. Notre Dame is No. 4. Lane Kiffin and LSU are No. 6. Mario Cristobal and Miami are ranked No. 9.

It's up to USC to restore its place as a top-five program, but if the Trojans continue to underachieve, that won't happen. Everyone in LA has to be sick and tired of being sick and tired, enough to want to finally get over the hump and silence the questions surrounding the program.

Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC's place as a top-tier college football program is slipping

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos