4. USC TROJANS
Maybe this is finally the USC team Lincoln Riley has been trying to construct since arriving in Los Angeles. Jayden Maiava returns at quarterback, the Trojans signed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and Riley believes the program finally has genuine organizational alignment. The most interesting piece is defense, where Gary Patterson has been brought in to help reshape the unit. Steele isn’t quite putting USC with the Big Ten’s three monsters, but fourth says he believes the Trojans are getting awfully close.
USC Trojans Team Profile
- Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (4th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Luke Huard
- Defensive Coordinator: Gary Patterson
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2)
- 2025 Finish: 4th in the Big Ten
- Conference: Big Ten
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
USC Trojans Futures Odds
- CFP National Championship Winner +3500
- SEC Championship Winner +1300
USC Trojans Transfer Portal
T5. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
The Kyle Whittingham era begins with one enormous building block already in place: Bryce Underwood. The sophomore quarterback owns the arm talent and athletic ability to make Michigan dangerous immediately, while Whittingham brings 21 years of head-coaching experience to Ann Arbor. The problem is the road ahead. Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State all appear on the schedule. Steele’s fifth-place projection feels less like criticism of Michigan and more like recognition of how unforgiving the upper half of this conference has become.
Michigan Wolverines Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Jason Beck
- Defensive Coordinator: Jay Hill
- 2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2)
- 2025 Finish: 5th in the Big Ten
- Conference: Big Ten
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Stadium: Michigan Stadium
Michigan Wolverines Futures Odds
- CFP National Championship Winner +4000
- Big Ten Championship Winner +1400
