USC has run a masterclass on how to work the Portal/NIL game this off-season. They used the big money to attract marquee national transfers like QB Caleb Williams, WR’ Jordan Addison, Mario Williams, and S Bryson Shaw.
Where they really have done the real damage is using smaller money to steal quality players from the other teams in the Pac-12. They got Oregon and Stanford’s starting RB, the best WR and CB from both Washington and Colorado, starting MLB from Arizona State, promising young LB from Utah. They are getting better while making teams on their schedule worse. SC was dead in the water without a coach and probably no better than 6th in the Pac-12 in December. Now, it looks like they will start the season ranked somewhere in the top 15 nationally and probably a popular sneaky pick to make the playoff.
Thank you legalized pay to play.