USC is ranked No. 6 nationally in ESPN’s updated preseason power rankings, which were released on Thursday morning. USC also earned a 1st-place vote from ESPN’s panel of experts.

The Trojans are entering Year 2 under Lincoln Riley, who led the program to a 10-3 campaign and a Pac-12 Championship Game appearance in Year 1.

Now, with Caleb Williams and several other impact players returning, USC is a strong contender to reach the College Football Playoff. At No. 6, USC is the highest-ranked Pac-12 team (and the only one in the top 10) per ESPN’s power rankings.

Here’s some analysis from Paolo Uggetti on USC’s best-case scenario in 2023:

Every player and coach at USC this season knows what they have on paper. A Heisman-winning quarterback in his final season. An explosive offense that could be deeper and better than last year. A defensive unit that has heard plenty about how much it needed to improve. A slew of talented transfers at key positions who all saw the potential in Lincoln Riley’s team when they decided to leave Arizona, Georgia, and Oklahoma State for Southern California. And perhaps most importantly, the motivation of coming up just short of a playoff spot. There’s no doubt USC has the talent and ability to not just make the playoff but compete for a title. Plenty of things have to go right, but that’s what the Trojans’ ceiling looks like in Riley’s second year on the job.

USC has never reached the College Football Playoff. The Trojans haven’t played for a National Championship since 2005.

If Williams is able to lead USC back to the College Football Playoff, he would likely be a strong contender to repeat as the winner of the Heisman Trophy. No player has won the Heisman multiple times since Archie Griffin did so in 1974-75.

USC will open the 2023 season against San Jose State on Aug. 26.