It is not exactly a secret that USC's first year in the Big Ten did not go according to plan. Granted, context also needs to be added. In terms of the scoreline and being competitive, the team was pretty much there, even during the losses in 2024.
Take out the Notre Dame game, which the Fighting Irish ended up winning by 14, which is not close, but it certainly would be doable to have potentially flipped that one, and USC lost five single-possession affairs.
Yes, the end product is ultimately judged on wins. This should show that the right system and mindset are instilled within the team and that the Trojans would actually not be nearly as behind as the record may suggest.