Two prominent and historically significant college football programs will kick off the season in a capacity-packed stadium as a marquee prime-time event before a nationwide television audience in Las Vegas. However, due to conference realignment changes having significant impacts on college athletics, games like Sunday night’s matchup between No. 13 LSU and No. 23 Southern California may become increasingly infrequent. This game had been scheduled before USC made the move to the Big Ten, along with three other Pac-12 teams. Given the addition of powerhouse teams in conferences like the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, coaches at such schools may be less inclined to schedule challenging non-conference games early in the season.
LSU coach Brian Kelly highlighted that although they were too far along in the planning to alter the season opener, games like this one may be less common in the future. Despite the shifting landscape, both Kelly and USC coach Lincoln Riley expressed enthusiasm about the match-up and the excitement of beginning the season against a formidable opponent. USC quarterback Miller Moss emphasized that these are precisely the type of games players come to schools like USC to participate in, echoing the sentiment felt by LSU players.
Both teams’ quarterbacks are following in the footsteps of Heisman Trophy winners, with Moss replacing Caleb Williams and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier taking over from Jayden Daniels. Moss and Nussmeier both impressed in their first career starts during bowl games last season, indicating promising futures for their respective teams. LSU’s ground game boasts experienced players in the likes of Josh Williams, Jon Emery Jr., and emerging talent like Kaleb Jackson and Caden Durham, supported by a seasoned offensive line renowned as one of the best in the nation.
After a disappointing defensive ranking last season, LSU has made significant changes, including hiring new defensive coordinator Blake Baker. With key players like AP preseason All-American linebacker Harold Perkins, Kelly is optimistic about the improvements seen in the defensive unit during August camp. On the USC side, center Jonah Monheim’s transition to a new position at center from left tackle will be tested against LSU, with Monheim emphasizing the adjustments needed for playing inside on the offensive line.
Overall, while the LSU vs. USC match-up kicks off the season with much anticipation, the changing landscape of college football conferences suggests games of this caliber could become less frequent in the future due to evolving conference alignments.
