Yes, usc has it tougher now...but thats MORE because they fell off, than it is UW and UCLA and them stepping up...those programs havent won shyt and if USC still had a legit coaching staff and recruiters they'd be killing them to this day.Stanford is a legit program now,Washington is better again they getting back to the 90s level as far as bringing in talent,Oregon consistent with their way of bringing in talent. UCLA is a much tougher threat to USC for the first time since 99/00 era USC was ahead of them cats forever 2x until Mora came UCLA was a nothing program trying to run the pistol going 4-8. All I said was USC had it easier in the 00s due to no one on they level when it comes to recruiting head to head for elite talent. I think FSU vs UF vs Bama vs UGA vs Miami is more difficult than USC vs Cal vs UCLA vs Oregon St vs ND for 5 star recruits.
Regarding the recruiting....i GUESS those teams in the south have it more diffficult but again if USC had a legit staff that wouldnt be the case. California has nearly as much talent as Florida or Georgia.