Smith-Schuster says current USC team would beat Alabama

The memory most college fans will have of 2016's opening weekend is the 52-6 beatdown Alabama put on USC.

The Crimson Tide put the college football world on notice, en route to a 13-0 record, and sent the Trojans spiraling down to a 1-3 record.

However, USC rebounded in large part due to Sam Darnold being inserted as the starting quarterback, and guiding the Trojans to an eight-game winning streak and a Rose Bowl berth.

The Trojans were arguably playing the best football in the land outside of Alabama, leading some to speculate if a rematch between the Tide and Trojans would be different.

Star USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who was held to just 9 yards receiving in that September contest, certainly thinks so.

"I wish we had the team that we had now at the beginning of the season to play against Alabama," Smith-Schuster told Kyle Bonagura of ESPN. "I think it would be a different story.

"But, at the same time, everything happens for a reason and I'm happy where we're at today."

Smith-Schuster was then asked point blank: "Do you think you would beat Alabama if you played them again?"

His response, after a pause and smirk: "Yes."