USC QB Caleb Williams believes Trojans can be special in 2023

The USC Trojans were close in 2023, but they walked away with no cigar.

They entered the Pac-12 Championship game ranked No. 4 in the country with only one loss. A revenge win against Utah would have given them a spot in the College Football Playoff and from there, who knows how it would have shaken out.

Unfortunately, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams was hobbled in that contest and the Trojans lost the game as well as their subsequent matchup with Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

It was a disappointing end to an otherwise exciting campaign. Heading into 2023, though, Williams seems to believe that USC can quickly wash away the bad taste that 2022 left. In fact, he thinks the unit USC will be trotting out in 2023 can be better than last season's team.

“Going in year three? It’s pretty special,” Williams said, (h/t On3). “We’ve got a special team this year. It was a special team last year. But, this year, it’s a special year for myself and for this team.”

Williams returning to take a shot at Archie Griffin's historic hold on the Heisman Trophy is a major reason for the optimism surrounding USC. 

That's not all, though. 

USC is returning 72 players from the 2022 team, including six starters on offense and eight on defense. In that group are offensive linemen Justin Dedich and Jonah Monheim and receiver Tahj Washington, who was the second-leading receiver on the team last season behind Jordan Addison.

Defensively, first-team All-American defensive back Calen Bullock returns to the squad as well as safety Max Williams, who was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention last season after leading the team in tackles with 79. 

Throw all of those players in a stew and mix in Lincoln Riley –arguably one of the top-five head coaches in college football – and you've got a recipe for success in 2023.

Some may even say that it could be special.