Two years into the tenure of coach DeMeco Ryans, the Houston Texans have been competitive but not elite. Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud have enabled the Texans to make the playoffs and win playoff games. However, the team has been stopped in the divisional playoff round and has not quite reached the top tier of the NFL.

This year, a few things have to happen if the Texans are to take the next step. If the Texans’ offensive line can keep C.J. Stroud upright, the Texans can be a force to reckon with. The Texans’ defense is talented; if they can stay healthy, they have the potential to be the best defensive unit in the NFL. This secondary is full of young talent including former USC Trojans Calen Bullock (safety) and rookie corner Jaylin Smith. Calen Bullock continuing to ascend will take this secondary to new heights. Jaylin Smith being a key contributor would be icing on the cake.

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Texans Wire writer Cole Thompson commented on a recent prediction of how this season will go for the Texans:

“USA TODAY’s Nate Davis released his full-season predictions on Wednesday, picking each team’s record and the full playoff picture. Davis likes the Texans’ chances to win the division, largely due to questions at the other three teams in the South. He has Houston posting a 10-7 record for the third-straight season and earning the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoff picture. With a new offensive coordinator (Nick Caley), reconfigured line, an already beaten-up group of running backs and three 2024 division winners awaiting in the season’s first five weeks, don’t be surprised if the Texans get off to a slow start,” Davis wrote. “But they also appear to remain the least-flawed team in what seems like a fairly weak division and play three of their final four games at home.”

It is fair to expect the Texans to win their division and lose early in the playoffs because the Texans’ brass has not convinced anyone that it can field an offensive line good enough to protect C.J. Stroud. The Texans have a high-powered offense and a formidable defense, but with so many USC football players on the roster, former Trojans will have a say in whether Houston exceeds expectations and becomes a frontline AFC contender.

The Chiefs would be a bad matchup for the Texans (and nearly every other team), but with the Texans’ team makeup, anything is possible. Overachieving production in a lot of spots — including the secondary with Calen Bullock being an all-pro and Jaylin Smith being another USC Trojan having an overachieving season — would change the equation for Houston.

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Woody Marks, the former Trojan running back, could also get in the mix early and provide the Texans a great substitution for Joe Mixon missing time. It is hard to predict how successful the Texans will be this season, but it is safe to say the USC Trojans on the roster will have a chance to do something special.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football players can lift Houston Texans above modest expectations