The 2023 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) as a member of the Pac-12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second year under head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans were preseason picks to win the Pac-12 championship, but compiled a 7–5 record (5–4 against conference opponents) during the regular season. The team began the season by winning six consecutive games but lost five of their final six games, including losses to rivals Notre Dame and UCLA. The unranked Trojans defeated No. 16 Louisville in the 2023 Holiday Bowl.
The season was USC's last season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference before joining the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2024.
The Trojans played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The USC Trojans football team drew an average home attendance of 66,071 in 2023.
Preseason
USC's spring football game was held on April 15, 2023, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The defense (white team) defeated the offense (red team) by a 42–34 score.,
The Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 21, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Head coach Lincoln Riley, quarterback Caleb Williams, and linebacker Mason Cobb represented USC at the event. USC was picked to finish first in the conference, receiving 25 out of a possible 36 first-place votes.
Schedule
Games summaries
vs San Jose State
Statistics SJSU USC First downs 24 25 Total yards 396 501 Rushes/yards 27–198 33–169 Passing yards 198 341 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–38–0 24–35–0 Time of possession 30:42 29:18 Team Category Player StatisticsSan José State Passing Chevan Cordeiro 21/38, 198 yards, 3 TD Rushing Quali Conley 6 carries, 108 yards Receiving Nick Nash 6 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 18/25, 278 yards, 4 TD Rushing Austin Jones 6 carries, 54 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tahj Washington 2 receptions, 85 yards, TD
vs Nevada
Statistics NEV USC First downs 12 28 Total yards 360 668 Rushes/yards 38–49 20–215 Passing yards 311 453 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–34–0 25–34–0 Time of possession 35:59 24:01 Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Brendon Lewis 18/29, 182 yards Rushing Sean Dollars 9 carries, 33 yards, TD Receiving Jamaal Bell 8 receptions, 121 yards, TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 18/24, 319 yards, 5 TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 7 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Tahj Washington 3 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs
vs Stanford
Statistics STAN USC First downs 20 27 Total yards 349 573 Rushes/yards 41–209 28–180 Passing yards 140 393 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–25–1 30–36–0 Time of possession 32:08 27:52 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Justin Lamson 8/18, 121 yards Rushing Casey Filkins 5 carries, 63 yards Receiving Benjamin Yurosek 4 receptions, 54 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 19/21, 281 yards, 3 TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 9 carries, 77 yards, TD Receiving Brenden Rice 1 reception, 75 yards, TD
at Arizona State
Statistics USC ASU First downs 22 22 Total yards 535 353 Rushes/yards 27–217 32–90 Passing yards 322 263 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–31–0 23–39–1 Time of possession 28:12 31:48 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 20/31, 322 yards, 3 TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 14 carries, 154 yards Receiving Brenden Rice 7 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD Arizona State Passing Drew Pyne 21/36, 221 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Cameron Skattebo 20 carries, 111 yards, TD Receiving Elijhah Badger 9 receptions, 81 yards, TD
at Colorado
Statistics USC COL First downs 26 32 Total yards 498 564 Rushes/yards 25–95 45–193 Passing yards 403 371 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–40–1 30–45–1 Time of possession 27:55 32:05 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 30/40, 403 yards, 6 TD, INT Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 13 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Tahj Washington 8 receptions, 117 yards, TDColorado Passing Shedeur Sanders 30/45, 371 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Anthony Hankerson 16 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Omarion Miller 7 receptions, 196 yards, TD
vs Arizona
Statistics ARIZ USC First downs 28 23 Total yards 506 365 Rushes/yards 42–203 33–146 Passing yards 303 219 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–35–1 14–25–0 Time of possession 35:39 24:21 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Noah Fifita 25/35 303 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Jonah Coleman 22 carries, 143 yards Receiving Tetairoa McMillan 6 receptions, 138 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 14/25 219 yards, TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 15 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Brenden Rice 4 receptions, 96 yards
at No. 21 Notre Dame
Statistics USC ND First downs 2313 Total yards 302251 Rushes/yards 37–10329–125 Passing yards 199126 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–37–313–20–0 Time of possession 34:35 34:35 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 23/37 199 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 8 carries, 46 yards, TD Receiving Michael Jackson III 6 receptions, 51 yardsNotre Dame Passing Sam Hartman 13/20 126 yards, 2 TD Rushing Audric Estimé 22 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chris Tyree 2 receptions, 61 yards, TD
vs No. 14 Utah
Statistics UTAH USC First downs 2318 Total yards 482401 Rushes/yards 47–24823–145 Passing yards 235256 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–23–135–35–0 Time of possession 34:42 25:18 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Bryson Barnes14/23 235 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ja'Quinden Jackson26 carries, 117 yards Receiving Sione Vaki5 receptions, 149 yards, 2 TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 24/34 256 yards Rushing MarShawn Lloyd7 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Tahj Washington 5 receptions, 112 yards
at California
Statistics USC CAL First downs 20 29 Total yards 299 527 Rushes/yards 40-130 42-235 Passing yards 369 292 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23-40-0 25-39-1 Time of possession 32:36 27:24 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 23-40, 369 yards, 2 TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 17 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tahj Washington 5 receptions, 102 yardsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 25-39, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jaydn Ott 21 carries, 153 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jeremiah Hunter 8 receptions, 96 yards
vs Washington
Statistics WASH USC First downs 27 24 Total yards 572 515 Rushes/yards 42-316 27-203 Passing yards 256 312 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-30-1 27-36-0 Time of possession 34:40 25:20 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Michael Penix Jr. 22-30 256 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Dillon Johnson 26 carries, 256 yards, 4 TD Receiving Rome Odunze 5 receptions, 82 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 27-35 312 yards, 3 TD Rushing Austin Jones 11 carries, 127 yards Receiving Tahj Washington 8 receptions, 122 yards, TD
at Oregon
Statistics USC ORE First downs 21 25 Total yards 379 552 Rushes/yards 25-73 31-140 Passing yards 306 412 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20-35-0 23-32-0 Time of possession 29:18 30:42 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 19-34 291 yards, TD Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 9 carries, 37 yards, TD Receiving Tahj Washington 4 receptions, 82 yardsOregon Passing Bo Nix 23-31 412 yards, 4 TD Rushing Bucky Irving 19 carries, 118 yards, TD Receiving Troy Franklin 2 receptions, 147 yards, TD
vs UCLA (Victory Bell)
Statistics UCLA USC First downs 19 17 Total yards 354 387 Rushes/yards 45–199 22–3 Passing yards 155 384 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 31–44–1 Time of possession 32:34 27:26 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Ethan Garbers 18/31, 155 yards, 3 TD Rushing T.J. Harden 22 carries, 142 yards, TD Receiving Logan Loya 9 receptions, 60 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 31/42, 384 yards, TD, INT Rushing MarShawn Lloyd 8 carries, 17 yards Receiving Brenden Rice 8 receptions, 147 yards, TD
vs Louisville (Holiday Bowl)
Statistics Louisville USC First downs 22 19 Total yards 361 443 Rushes/yards 45–220 19–71 Passing yards 141 372 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–25–0 23–33–1 Time of possession 36:34 23:26 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisville Passing Jack Plummer 21/25, 141 yards Rushing Isaac Guerendo 23 carries, 161 yards, 3 TD Receiving Isaac Guerendo 5 receptions, 42 yardsUSC Passing Miller Moss 23/33, 372 yards, 6 TD, INT Rushing Austin Jones 11 carries, 60 yards Receiving Tahj Washington 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD
Personnel
Roster and coaching staff
Depth chart
True Freshman Double Position : * official Depth Chart Week 0 vs San José State (08/26/2023)
Injury report Name Position Class Injury Duration Solomon Tuliaupupu DL Senior Lower leg Season Gino Quinones OL Senior Lower leg Season Zion Branch S Freshman Knee Season
Scholarship distribution chart Position/Year Freshman (26) Sophomore (15) Junior (18) Senior (25) QB 4 (1) Malachi Nelson Caleb Williams - RB 6 (1) Quinten Joyner A’Marion Peterson Raleek Brown ^ WR 9 (3) Zachariah Branch Ja’Kobi Lane Makai Lemon Michael Jackson III Dorian Singer Mario Williams ^Brenden Rice ^ TE 6 (2) H-Back Duce Robinson Kade Eldridge - ^ OL 15 (4) Micah Bañuelos Alani Noa Elijah Paige Tobias Raymond Amos Talalele ^ ^ ^ DL 13 (1) Elijah Hughes Deijon Laffitte Bear Alexander Anthony Lucas Korey Foreman ^ ^ RUSH 6 (1) Sam Greene DJ Peevy Braylan Shelby - ^ ILB 7 (2) Tackett Curtis - Raesjon Davis Eric Gentry ^Mason Cobb ^Chris Thompson Jr. DB 16 (6) Maliki Crawford Christian Pierce Domani Jackson Fabian Ross Calen Bullock Jaylin Smith ^ ^ SP 3 (-) - Eddie Czaplicki Aadyn Sleep-Dalton x x x x
Projected Scholarship Distribution 2023 chart
^ : the players who still have to make an official choice and the players who are eligible for the Covid year.
/ / * Former Walk-on /
– 84 players on scholarship (+ 1 LDS Mission) / 85 scholarships permitted
Coaching staff departures
NamePositionNew TeamNew Position Conner McQueen Offensive graduate assistant / offensive skill Incarnate Word Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Austin Woods Senior Defensive analyst / assistant defensive line Incarnate Word Offensive line coach / run game coordinator Bryan Kegans Associate Director of football sports performance North Texas Director of strength and conditioning Brad Aoki Quarterback Colorado State Offensive graduate assistant Will Harriger Senior Offensive analyst / assistant quarterbacks / game management coordinator / NFL liaison Dallas Cowboys (NFL) Offensive assistant Lenny Vandermade Offensive quality control analyst St. Ignatius College Prep football (High School) Head coach – varsity team Parker Henry Defensive analyst / assistant linebackers Portland State Special teams coordinator / linebackers coach
Coaching staff additions
NamePositionOld teamOld position Adam Thackery Assistant director of football sports performance Mississippi State Baseball Strength & conditioning coach Trey Tinsley Offensive graduate assistant Mississippi State Offensive quality control Bookie Radley-Hiles Defensive analyst Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) PlayerDerek Fa'aviOffensive analystHawaiiDirector of player developmentGreg Brown Senior defensive analystCharlotteDefensive coordinatorKliff Kingsbury Senior offensive analystArizona Cardinals (NFL)Head coachBryson Allen-Williams Defensive quality controlNorth CarolinaDefensive graduate assistant
Transfers
Transfers out The Trojans have lost 23 players via transfer.