Days Ahead Of Week 0 Matchup, Josh Pate Casts Doubts On USC’s Replacement For 6-Foot-4 Star With Honest Assessment

College football Week 0 starts on Aug. 23, and if one team concerns analyst Josh Pate heading into it, that’s USC. On the latest podcast episode of “Josh Pate’s College Football Show,” the analyst took up USC’s offensive line and asked whether the Trojans have accurate answers to replace ineligible transfer DJ Wingfield, who was projected to start at left.

As of now, the analyst does not buy into the idea that USC can easily replace 6’4″ Wingfield until their Week 0 matchup against Missouri State on Aug. 30.

“We got to talk about USC because their projected left guard is ineligible. DJ Wingfield is ineligible. And it looked like he was projected to be their starting left guard,” Pate said on Late Kick Live. (34:48)

The Trojans have maintained confidence in their depth, but Pate isn’t convinced the answers are that simple.

“So, USC for example, USC will tell you, ‘We got depth. We’ll be okay at offensive guard.’ So then you ask, ‘All right, well, who your starters?’ Well, we don’t quite know yet,” he continued.

With Week 0 looming, the lack of certainty makes the analyst uneasy.

“I’ve just been around this too many times and I’ve listened to people tell me too many times, ‘Oh, we got plenty of names.’ They’ll just start listing names.

However, Pate urged to know the names of the quality starters rather than just fill-ins. The analyst concluded with the core of his concern, claiming that he was clueless about the offensive line’s interior at the USC guard position. He argued that it might not be a weakness, but it’s just a persistent question.

Wingfield, who transferred from Purdue, was denied a fifth year of eligibility in a court ruling earlier this month. Till then, he had been expected to start for the Trojans and provide much-needed experience on the offensive line. However, with him exiting the scene for good, USC enters the season opener with lingering uncertainty at the o-line.

Why does Court Ruling Block USC OL DJ Wingfield from playing in 2025 season?

DJ Wingfield’s hopes of suiting up for USC in 2025 came to a halt after a federal judge denied his bid for a fifth year of eligibility. The former Purdue guard, who was projected to start on the Trojans’ offensive line, joined a group of players challenging the NCAA’s ruling that ended their college careers.

Despite USC putting together a lucrative NIL package for Wingfield, the court sided with the NCAA, ruling that his eligibility clock had run out. The judge also noted that Wingfield waited months before seeking emergency relief, which weakened his case. As a result, USC now faces a major hole up front, with little time left before kickoff.

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