ESPN Insider and the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, as part of their annual run-down of all Division I college football programs, predicts USC will win the national title, going 13-0, noting that the team is significantly better entering fall camp than it was a year ago, “actually, it’s not even close.” They add that the Pac-10 should be one of the top two or three rated conferences nationally, and only Cal is in USC’s area code in terms of talent.

Other items of interest: The article states that “it seems increasingly plausible that Pete Carroll will finish his career in Los Angeles.” Fullback Stanley Havili floored the SC coaching staff this spring with the way he’s recovered from a season-ending broken fibula suffered during the Arizona game last fall. Citing Carroll,  ”Stanley is a first-flight player for us, and he is going to be involved in a big way because we like everything he does.” And singling out the linebackers as the best unit on the team, Carroll states,

It’s the biggest, fastest, most aggressive linebacking group we’ve had. Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing are the three best linebackers in America.

Team preview: USC - Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook (ESPN, $)