6/20/2023 0 Comments Andy staples![]() USC just got former Georgia defensive tackle Bear Alexander out of the transfer portal, and he joins Anthony Lucas (Texas A&M), Jack Sullivan ( Purdue) and Kyon Barrs (Arizona) on a defensive line that will look a lot more like the ones on the teams at the top of the Big Ten. It would be easy to say that’s being done to be competitive in the Big Ten, but that also might give the Trojans a chance to win the deepest Pac-12 in years in 2023. I’ve lobbed a fair share of criticism at USC coach Lincoln Riley for not acquiring as much talent as he should have on defense while with the Trojans and with Oklahoma, but this offseason has shown Riley is serious about upgrading that side of the ball. Ubben: The new Big 12's talent drain makes it more like The American than the ACC The 2023 class was headlined by QB Arch Manning, but the more likely early contributors are tailback Cedric Baxter Jr. Left tackle Kelvin Banks is already a star, and guards Cole Hutson, DJ Campbell and Neto Umeozulu might all have big roles by the time the Longhorns reach the SEC. The 2022 class was heavy on offensive linemen who were sought after by excellent programs. His last two recruiting classes bear that out. Steve Sarkisian was Alabama’s offensive coordinator before he became the Longhorns’ coach, so he also knows exactly how the roster is supposed to look. That’s important because the coaches who don’t understand how those rosters must look have no chance of success. Venables’ history at Clemson - where he helped build rosters that beat Alabama in the College Football Playoff - suggests he knows exactly what a team that can beat the SEC’s best needs on the line of scrimmage. The Sooners landed the player everyone believes is their quarterback of the future ( Jackson Arnold) and six other top-100 players. Oklahoma finished fourth in the nation in the 247Sports Composite team rankings for the Class of 2023. While we don’t yet know if Brent Venables can do the job to Oklahoma’s satisfaction on the field, he seems capable of building the Sooners an SEC roster. (Also, don’t be shocked if Ball State transfer running back Carson Steele gobbles up some of the yards left behind by the loss of Zach Charbonnet to the draft.) UCLA seems to be recruiting in a similar fashion to previous years with the glaring exception of landing five-star quarterback Dante Moore, a Detroit native who should feel quite comfortable playing in Big Ten country. The schools that seem to be most explicitly building toward their new conference homes are Oklahoma, Texas and USC. USC, meanwhile, has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback and was in the College Football Playoff race last year until it lost the Pac-12 title game. (Read my next answer for more on that.) UCLA just finished its best season since Chip Kelly took over in 2018. Still, this particular Texas team looks like the most talented in the Big 12 at the moment. ![]() Texas always wants to win now, but the Longhorns often can’t get out of their own way. The attitude at Oklahoma is always win-now. It’s safe to say that all four are taking a win-now approach. Several questions after spring practice and the transfer portal: Are any schools taking a win-now approach, essentially planning on dominating the conference on the way out the door? Which school has already shifted to building toward their new conference home? Out of the four, who’s about to face some harsh reality when they do switch? Lastly, whose fan base should be most excited about leaving? - Michael This season will be the last run for Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and UCLA in their current conferences. Note: Submitted questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity. ![]() Some teams are about to play their final season in their respective conferences, and you have questions …
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