Editor's Note: USC completes this year's 2007 Athlon Sports Top 25 Countdown. If you would like to discuss the Top 25 or all things college football, join Athlon's editors for live chats every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. beginning June 14.

No. 1: USC

How in the world does Pete Carroll continue to keep his team so stacked with talent year after year? How can the seven Parade All-America running backs at USC all believe they’re going to be the next star at Tailback U.? Why does quarterback Mark Sanchez, the 2004 Parade All-America Player of the Year, sit on the bench behind Matt Leinart and John David Booty — for three years? It’s the same story at just about every position on the team. If the Trojans lose a game this year, it’ll be their own fault.

With 15 starters back from last season, including 10 on defense, along with most of the top backups and another stellar recruiting class (they didn’t have a lot of scholarships to give this year, but the quality they reaped is ridiculously good), Carroll’s crew should roll from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1 and beyond.

Booty completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. He enters 2007 as a top Heisman contender, with Sanchez knocking on the door. The tailback position is an embarrassment of riches, with three players returning who started games last year: C.J. Gable, Emmanuel Moody and Chauncey Washington. Gable was the first true freshman tailback ever to start a season opener for the Trojans. Allen Bradford, Stafon Johnson and a trio of the most coveted recruits in the nation are all standing in line. Though Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are gone, don’t make the mistake of overlooking USC’s receiving corps. Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton and David Ausberry (and, if spring games are any indication, Travon Patterson) will be household names before season’s end.

The offensive line is two-deep in top-notch performers, with three returning starters, led by two-time All-America tackle Sam Baker. Another All-American, nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, leads three returning starters on the defensive line. Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing comprise the first line of the best and deepest linebacker corps in America. Safety Taylor Mays had a major impact as a true freshman, racking up 62 tackles and leading the Trojans with three interceptions, and rejoins the rest of the starting secondary and all of their backups from last year. Among the potential stars of the incoming freshman class are the nation’s top-rated prospects at running back (Joe McKnight), center (Kristofer O’Dowd), defensive end (Everson Griffen), and linebacker (Chris Galippo).

The Trojans will travel to their two toughest out-of-conference contests this year — Nebraska and Notre Dame. The California game on Nov. 10 is also on the road. The home slate doesn’t look particularly challenging until Oregon State comes calling on Nov. 3, then UCLA in the finale.

Notes:
» The Trojans have lost four of their last 60 games — by a total of 12 points.

» USC had no trouble with out of conference foes last year, dispatching SEC West champ Arkansas 50–14, Big 12 North champ Nebraska 28–10, Notre Dame 44–24 and Michigan in the Rose Bowl 32–18. The Trojans stumbled, however, in their own conference, losing to Oregon State 33–31 and UCLA 13–9.

» Pete Carroll’s Trojans are enjoying streaks of five consecutive AP top 4 finishes, five consecutive 11-win seasons, five consecutive Pac-10 titles, and five consecutive BCS Bowl appearances.

2007 Schedule
S.       1    Idaho
S.     15    at Nebraska
S.     22    Washington State
S.     29    at Washington
O.       6    Stanford
O.     13    Arizona
O.     20    at Notre Dame
O.     27    at Oregon
N.       3    Oregon State
N.     10    at California
N.     22    at Arizona State
D.       1    UCLA

Read the entire USC preview by ordering your Athlon Sports 2007 College Football Regional and National magazines today!

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
– Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
– Live chats with Athlon editors
– Conference-preview videocasts.

Follow the entire 2007 football season on AthlonSports.com where we preview every game from every conference in Division I-A and recap the weekend’s BCS action in conference notebooks.

Other in-season offerings:
– Fantasy Games
– Sideline Spirit Voting
– Scenes From Saturday
– Updated Athlon 119
– Much more

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