I agree with most of what Wolverine19 has to say except for one item; resources. When it comes to resources, Michigan is significantly better off than USC. One must factor in the $270 million state funding that Michigan receives from the state annually, which is the equivalent of an additional $6 billion of endowment when comparing a public university to a private university. So if one is comparing Michigan to USC, Michigan’s endowment is in fact equal to $16 billion, compared to USC’s $4.7 billion. Since Michigan and USC are roughly the same size, Michigan’s endowment is almost four times larger than USC’s in relative terms as well.
Furthermore, while this is by no means an important factor, I think USC’s students are “nicer looking” because they live in a climate that compels students to stay fit, tan and dress accordingly…not that Michigan is hurting in that department. There are many attractive young men and women around campus, but they simply do not have the chance to flaunt it most of the year because their attire tends to be…well, fluffy! 