USC ranks No. 17 in opening 2020 Coaches Poll

We’re just nearly three weeks away from the start of the 2020 college football season across the country, and with that, the inaugural Coaches Poll has been released.

The USC Trojans found themselves ranked No. 17 overall in the season-opening coaches poll, behind just Oregon for Pac-12 supremacy.

The Ducks, though defending Rose Bowl and Pac-12 Champions, will be forced to replace a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball, including former four-year starter Justin Herbert. On the flip side of that coin, the Trojans are entering the year with at least two more seasons of Kedon Slovis at the helm and the rightful changing of the guard is bound to happen this season, or so it seems.

The Trojans finished with 521 total points in the AMWAY Coaches Poll to open the season, just three behind No. 16 Oklahoma State.

The voting system, as it works, is explained like this:

The Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches at FBS schools. The panel is chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the American Football Coaches Association their willingness to participate. Each coach submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.

USC and Oregon are joined by Utah in the top 25, as the Utes entered the fold at No. 20 overall. Speaking of replacing a ton of stars, the Utes are forced to replace 10 starters on defense and 11 of their 12 players on defense who played the most snaps a season ago.

Arizona State, Washington, Washington State, Cal and Stanford each received votes but fell outside of the top 25.

The 2020 season is scheduled to kick off for USC on September 26 against UCLA.