UConn tops rankings as CBS predicts undefeated season; USC eyes Final Four without JuJu Watkins

When the UConn Huskies tipped off their 2025-26 season on October 15, few expected them to start 4-0 with an average margin of victory over 30 points. But that’s exactly what happened — and now, with UConn ranked #1 in the Associated Press poll, the question isn’t whether they’re good — it’s whether they’re unbeatable. On October 28, 2025, CBS Sports reporter Isabel Gonzalez published a bold prediction: UConn will go undefeated. Meanwhile, USC Trojans, despite losing star JuJu Watkins to a season-ending knee injury, are being tipped for a surprise Final Four run. The twist? ESPN’s top analyst called it a fantasy.

UConn’s Perfect Start — And the Doubters

Through four games, UConn hasn’t just won — they’ve dismantled opponents. A 32-point drubbing of Florida State, a 28-point win over Louisville — even when the Cardinals cut the lead late, the Huskies never looked rattled. Sarah Strong is averaging 21.3 points and 7.1 rebounds. Azzi Fudd, back from a pair of ACL surgeries, is shooting 52% from three. And the depth? UConn has seven players averaging 8+ minutes per game. This isn’t a one-star team. It’s a machine.

But here’s the catch: ESPN senior writer Alexa Philippou didn’t mince words. "Not real," she wrote, referring to the undefeated hype. "You can’t play Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Iowa, Notre Dame, and Tennessee — all in nonconference — and expect to walk through unscathed. Even UConn has limits."

USC’s Resilience Without JuJu Watkins

At the same time, USC Trojans are quietly rewriting expectations. Without JuJu Watkins, the nation’s top recruit last year, many assumed they’d fall out of the top 10. Instead, they’re ranked #6 in ESPN’s Power Rankings, 2-0 with wins over Oregon and San Diego State. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has shifted to a positionless system, leaning heavily on freshman Jazzy Davidson, who’s averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 assists. "We’re not replacing JuJu," Gottlieb told reporters after the San Diego State game. "We’re replacing her role — with five people."

And defensively? They’re elite. Last season, they held UCLA — and Lauren Betts — to 48 points in a buzzer-beater win. That kind of grit, combined with a tougher nonconference slate this year, has analysts wondering if they might sneak past South Carolina or Texas in the Sweet 16.

The Championship Picture: UConn vs. South Carolina, Again?

Let’s not forget last year’s final: UConn beat South Carolina 78-72 in April 2025, ending the Gamecocks’ 31-game winning streak. Now, South Carolina is back — but without Chloe Kitts, their starting center. They’re still ranked #2 in the AP poll, with a 4-0 record and three first-place votes. Their odds to win March Madness? +280 — second only to UConn’s +155.

And the schedule? South Carolina faces LSU, Tennessee, and Texas in conference play. All three have top-10 talent. But South Carolina coach Dawn Staley knows what it takes to win titles. "We don’t care who’s ranked where," she said last week. "We care about who’s ready to fight on March 30."

Can UConn Really Go 36-0?

Only seven teams in NCAA women’s history have gone undefeated. The last? UConn in 2016. Since then, no team has even reached 30 wins without a loss. But this year’s roster is different. No injuries. No suspensions. No one-player reliance. Geno Auriemma has 12 players who could start on other teams. Even the bench — Rori Harmon, returning from an ACL tear — is a top-10 point guard.

Still, the path is brutal. Ohio State has a 6’6" center who blocks 4.2 shots per game. Iowa leads the nation in three-pointers. Tennessee wants revenge after last year’s 22-point loss. And then there’s the pressure — the weight of history. One slip-up, and the narrative flips: "UConn finally fell."

What’s Next?

The next big test comes on December 1, when UConn hosts USC in Hartford. It’s the first time these two have met since 2022 — and the first time without JuJu Watkins. That game could decide not just the top of the rankings, but the entire tone of the season.

If UConn wins, the undefeated talk will explode. If USC pulls off the upset? Well, then the Final Four prediction might just come true — and the whole landscape changes.

Background: The Legacy of UConn’s Dominance

Since 1995, UConn has won 12 national titles — more than any other program. Their last title came in 2023, when Paige Bueckers led them to the crown. Her departure to the WNBA was a seismic shift — but not a collapse. UConn has always thrived in transition. In 2014, they lost three starters to graduation and still went 38-0. In 2018, they lost their star to injury and won it all anyway. This isn’t a new story. It’s just the next chapter.

Meanwhile, USC hasn’t reached the Final Four since 2014. Their last Elite Eight? 2008. But with Lindsay Gottlieb — a former Cal coach who took the Trojans to the Sweet 16 in 2024 — they’re building something different. More fluid. More fearless. Less reliant on one superstar. That’s the future of women’s basketball.