They came out of the Rose Bowl with more questions than answers.
Where was that level of execution against Stanford?
And Oregon?
And why not another game, against Louisiana State, to settle the national championship once and for all?
Heading into spring practice, which begins today and continues through April 19, USC faces an even bigger one.
Has a team with this many holes ever been more of a lock to open the season in the top five?
Minus a starting quarterback, tight end, running back, linebacker, cornerback, two defensive and four offensive linemen from last year’s 11-2 campaign, the Trojans might even make a run at Georgia for the preseason No. 1 ranking before all is said and done.
In the interim, there are position battles to be decided, the most high profile between two former Parade Magazine National Players of the Year to succeed John David Booty under center.
Mark Sanchez, a redshirt junior from Mission Viejo, is the admitted frontrunner with his time vested in the program. He also went 2-1 as a starter last season after Booty broke a finger on his throwing hand, throwing for 642 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
His main competition also has starting experience, as Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain went 8-0 as a freshman before a tumultuous divorce from the Razorbacks. Mustain returns after sitting out a year per NCAA regulations, but showed promise running the scout team for USC last year.
Former Orange Lutheran standout Aaron Corp is also in the mix, albeit a long shot barring injury or some other unforeseen circumstance.
Whoever wins the job will be looking for improved production at wide receiver while replacing record-breaking tight end and Mackey Award winner Fred Davis.
In the 49-17 romp over Illinois on New Years Day, Davis caught seven passes for 87 yards – both team highs – and a touchdown. Trojan wideouts managed only four receptions for 48 yards, though senior Patrick Turner was sidelined with a bruised thigh.
Turner, junior Vidal Hazelton and sophomore Ronald Johnson all showed promise at times, but inconsistent play forced Davis to become the top option in the passing game.
Junior Anthony McCoy will look to lay claim to his vacated playing time before highly-touted recruit Blake Ayles arrives on campus.
Even with those departures, USC still has plenty of firepower returning. Joe McKnight turned in a transcendent performance in the Rose Bowl with 170 yards of total offense and a touchdown. Junior Stafon Johnson also rushed for more than 100 yards against the Illini, finally healthy after suffering a foot injury against Washington. After redshirting because of abdominal surgery, C.J. Gable should again provide balance as a tailback, blocker and receiver.
At linebacker, Kaluka Maiava acquitted himself well when now-departed Keith Rivers was hampered by a sprained ankle. After undergoing wrist surgery that will force him to miss spring practices, however, Michael Morgan and Malcolm Smith have a chance to work their way into the vacancy at weakside linebacker.
Rey Maualuga and Brain Cushing return to handle the other two positions and could each be named to preseason All-America teams.
Same for returning defensive backs Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays.
Those four are all but certain to start Aug. 30 at Virginia.
The rest?
To be answered.
● Who emerges as starting quarterback?
My prediction: Mark Sanchez
● What does the running back rotation look like?
My prediction: Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight total about 30 to 35 touches per game, with Broderick Green as the short yardage/goal line back and C.J. Gable as a change of pace. Marc Tyler moves to linebacker.
● Who’s on the offensive line?
My prediction: From left tackle to right tackle, Butch Lewis, Jeff Byers, Kris O’Dowd, Zack Heberer, Charles Brown
● Any breakthrough performances in the spring?
My prediction: Damian Williams vaults into the starting lineup at receiver, Malcolm Smith proves a worthy asset at linebacker.
