Big fan of this podcast. It’s perfect for longtime USC fans - they cover the current state of the team while also bringing up all the classic players we loved from the early 2000s to now. Michael has a great feel for USC history and does an awesome job comparing past players and coaches to the current ones. Outside of the Heisman winners, Mike Williams is easily the best player I’ve seen at USC, so I love that he gets some mentions here. They connect everything really well, and Alicia helps me process the highs and lows of each season. I find myself agreeing with almost everything she says when it comes to reactions of games. This pod keeps me sane when I want to lose my mind as a alumni/fan of this program haha. Just a really great pod for SC fans. It’s become just as much a part of the USC football experience for me as the actual games.

With Juju out of the tournament I will need some good trauma therapy. I am beside myself and not sure what to do. The women's team was all I had to look forward to in my entire life at the moment and that is gone. We may beat Kansas St but there's no way we beat UConn now!!!

This is a great podcast. The amount of time and effort required to consistently create and publish these episodes must be enormous. Michael and Alicia are wonderful hosts and are very entertaining. I look forward to each episode being released. Very much enjoy listening to it on my commute and when at the gym etc. Thanks! Happy holidays. Chappy

Love the biased Trojan fandom that resonates from Michael and Alicia! They are stoked when the football team wins, and legitimately disconsolate when the losses and befuddling 4th quarter collapses accumulate - they feel it! And they try to disseminate information that is objective, knowledgeable, and helpful, but feel correctly thwarted by aspects of the entire USC administration and revenue-sharing management that jeopardize the reputation and proficiency of the on-field performances and historic brand. They exude real passion for USC, and it hurts them that these successive .500 seasons and lower tier bowl appearances have damaged the elite competitive expectations for their beloved Trojans. The USC football fan base is spiraling in their collective head scratching - especially during this transfer portal exodus. May I suggest that Michael and Alicia transfer their heartfelt allegiance to the USC Women’s basketball team and discuss its exploits if they’re anxious for Trojan excellence and dominance? They also occasionally launch into food reviews and discussions of their particular taste for ingredients and dishes that are great! At some point they’ll drill down into palette sophistication and how taste develops and matures. I look forward to their evolution as a podcast.

Great job.. Jahkeem’s old High School wouldn’t allow him to graduate early, so he changed schools and the Louisiana board ruled him ineligible.. So Jahkeem worked with a trainer his whole senior year.. He also worked out in person for Eric Henderson..

Could be. No hate to peristyle or traveler hates Thursdays or anybody. But no one does it like Michael and Alicia; I also like when they occasionally veer lightly into EPL and F1. They’re just incredibly charming, smart, deeply invested in the team but not in a cheesy boring boosterish way or in a constantly catastrophizing way. Hard balance to strike, but they’ve found it. Love them!

Michael and Alicia strike the perfect balance of being huge SC fans while maintaining objectivity in their analysis and commentary. They put a ton of work into each episode and it shows. On top of that, they are genuinely great people and a joy to listen to every week. I’ve never left an online review for anything until now, but these guys deserve it. Fight on!

Really enjoy each show they do. They’re both knowledgeable and reasonable, which is absent with some other podcasters. They have great chemistry and don’t mind challenging one another. It’s nice to be able to walk through the football season with others who may be, shall I say “optimistic” and/or “pessimistic” from game to game. It’s all rainbows and butterflies with these two, never pickles and hot sauce! Thanks for all you two do! Fight On!

Fabulous POD that is therapeutic! Great chemistry and in depth knowledge about what’s going on in the Trojan football world and behind the scenes. I get to celebrate and commensurate virtually with this team! Thanks for all the joy you bring me! Keep up the great work! USC ‘91, ‘95

I am NOT a Trojan fan. But Alison’s guest appearance and demeanor convinced me to listen and watch several episodes ( podcasts and YouTube). Impressed and appreciative of great REAL people, analysis, discussion Great podcast. And no I don’t agree with all the takes, just appreciate the points of view and thoughtfulness.

Great show but please…Michael you've regressed and gotten worse at saying the word “like” or “it’s like” constantly. It’s unprofessional and annoying.

Great podcast for all SC football news and analysis. Love the random food takes although Michael is crazy with his food can’t be touching other food on the plate thing. Great listen and great content! Fight On ✌️!

I live in North Lake Tahoe, which is not exactly in the heart of USC country, despite the many alumni who call Tahoe home. Reign of Troy prepares me for the season, primes me for game week, and helps me recap after the game. Love the show, and I’m looking forward to hopefully a very special football season. FIGHT ON! ✌️

I love this podcast with Michael and Alicia. Fight On and bring on more Avatar length shows like the season preview I just finished. I swear it was light outside when I started it. LOL. ✌🏽❤️

I love Michael and Alicia’s fun and informative energy, the car cast is clutch, takes are fun and sometimes spicy

Huge fan here, love the show and the great chem between you guys. ROT BOTS.

Love all the cilantro on the pod! My two favorite podcasts! Fight on! ✌🏾

The Reign of Troy podcast is one of the most comprehensive and engaging USC Trojans football podcasts out there. Hosted by Michael Castillo and Alicia de Artola, the podcast covers everything from game analysis to breaking news, while also providing a healthy dose of humor and personality. What sets the Reign of Troy podcast apart is its deep knowledge and understanding of USC football. The hosts have a wealth of experience and expertise, and they use it to provide listeners with in-depth insights into the team's performance, coaching decisions, and overall strategy. In addition to their expert analysis, Michael and Alicia are also skilled storytellers and conversationalists. They have a great rapport and a natural chemistry that makes each episode feel like you're listening in on a conversation between friends. Overall, the Reign of Troy podcast is a must-listen for any USC Trojans football fan or anyone who loves college football. With its expert analysis, up-to-date news, and entertaining commentary, it's no wonder why this podcast has become a fan favorite. Whether you're a die-hard USC fan or just love great football analysis, the Reign of Troy podcast is definitely worth a listen.

The level of which they insult other fan bases may seem fine in “Arrogant Nation,” but it saps their credibility

Have been listening to Michael and Alicia for the better part of 4 years because they are charming and do their homework. The thing is… I loathe USC! I find my way back to this podcast every week during football season because I’m entertained, and I wanted to say thank you for keeping me busy a few hours a week. Fact is, I am going to miss you Trojans when you leave. USC is the perfect villain because they have what other teams want… and USC fan should be excited, you’re (finally) on your way back and everyone can feel it! Appreciate that hurt when you lose again..it only feels that bad because it doesn’t happen that often and remember only last year you were numb to losing. Now we only have one year left until our divorce and I promise not to hate on USC so bad when you leave…but I will still listen to this podcast because Michael and Alicia are good at what they do! Thanks again and Happy New Year! Go UTES!!

Just what is needed to digest the game. Michael and Alicia are great at helping make sense of it all.

Excellent podcast. Full of info and fun. Can’t wait for your post-game Tunnel commentaries,. Strange season with anything possible. Cannot wait until next year. Help me survive the interim with your reports on recruits and lasagna.

This show definitely gives you hard truths which is needed to keep expectations realistic. Love the dialogue and the analytics.

Bj from Colt land Micheal knows it was C-house way before the Nachos Carson baby!!!! Anyways love the podcast for about the last 7 years, a shot of cardinal and gold for my weekly fix P.S I’m glad Grinch heard me when I said make DTR throw the ball definitely not his strong point 😂😂✌🏽✌️✌️✌🏽✌️#Fight on for LIFE!!!!

I love this podcast. Definitely my favorite USC Football podcast. But I will stop listening if you plan to continue interrupting Alicia mid sentence with a loud, annoying sound effect to have an ad. That was terrible.

Michael and Alicia have this amazing knack to draw me into the podcast. What I have come to expect every single episode will have some usc football content and a whole lot of food takes some are good but most make no sense to me but it doesn’t matter because this is a very entertaining podcast especially the playful banter from the hosts. I love the show I look forward to every episode.

RoT is a fantastic podcast, and I am grateful for it existing. When I was first accepted to USC as a transfer admit in 2019 as a kid from New Jersey, I listened to Michael and Alicia for the first time and their content helped me learn about the team and start to love the school and football team. I honestly can’t think of a single thing that this podcast could do better. News, constant questions/engagement from viewers, insight into the team, realistic and fun discussions, X’s and O’s, and so much more (I agree with Michael about lasagna). Michael and Alicia, thank you for what you do, and it is truly appreciated. I know that both of you have been open with your struggles with imposter syndrome and anxiety, and I just wanted to say that from my perspective and from the perspective of those that I have shared with RoT with, you two are truly amazing at what you do, and listening to RoT legitimately is one of the things I look forward to most every week.

They spent five minutes talking about lasagna, but to be fair, they did warn the audience that the dying minutes of each podcast would be dedicated to frivolity. Michael & Alicia occupy that sweet spot in sports coverage, the area that resides between charming fandom, professional analytics, and listener engagement. This podcast is fun and they understand exactly who they are and what they offer. My recommendation is to listen to their married-to-each-other-faces and be thankful that our football team has such competent voices following along. - Thomas

I’ve been listening to RoT for a couple years now and have loved every minute! I appreciate both of your passion for USC football, and for always giving us SC fans true, honest takes. Aside from Michael’s awful food takes, this podcast has it all. As I navigate through the rigors of Medical School, I really look forward to my commute so I can get my football updates from your unique takes, and awesome banter. Thanks for giving me a small escape from school! Please keep the podcasts coming! -Jeremy

As a die hard SC fan I been searching for a podcast that is devoted to them I appreciate you both !

As an SC fan former SoCal resident, finding you guys have brightened my college football season. Your conversations are insightful and engaging. Thanks for keeping me awake on my way home from a graveyard shift.

I often cannot process everything happening on the field in front of me while sitting at the Coliseum after a full day of tailgating and drinking. No one synthesizes the events of each USC game and tempers my overreactions better than Michael and Alicia in the Carcast. Additionally, the Fallout and Preview episodes fill the middle of my weeks in the fall with delight, as I otherwise miserably sit at work waiting for Saturday’s to roll around in order to watch more college football. Thank you and fight on!

Don and Donna Downer love your show, but you always dwell in the past. NEW SEASON, NEW COACH. Trojans will have a winning season. Enjoy the games.

Alicia and Michael combine the chemistry of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling with spot-on analysis of Trojan football. Got us through the twin pandemics of Helton and Covid! Fight on!

Top quality show with two people that ACTUALLY KNOW their stuff! In depth discussions on real “inside football” topics that mostly get missed by bigger sports news networks. Going to be a great season, congrats on the wedding and Fight On!

Notre Dame is a single lady. She likes her Saturday nights free so she can do as she pleases…..late into the night. But how could she turn down $300m from Papa Phil Knight to marry Oregon? Can you see them holding hands and walking down the isle as they move into BIG 10?

This podcast offers excellent production and great knowledge of USC football. They have great chemistry (obviously) and the right mix of football with a little pop culture mixed in. Keep up the great work.

New u-tube format live is fun. QUESTION: Why do you make Michael dress as the Leprechaun from your alma mater in green? (Ep 437) Also why is he cheated hiding his face behind the pop filter with a lower quality camera? Let’s get some school pride going in Cardinal & Gold or ROT merch! Can’t wait for first car cast

I’ve been listening to both of you for years. I’m an overseas contractor and I’ve recently retired from the Army. I’ve listened to you everywhere from California, New York to my current home in Cary, NC and overseas from Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Korea and finally from my current location of Mexico City. I really like your show because you both are extremely knowledgeable and informative but you don’t attempt to be profound or exaggerate your inside connections as some podcasters do. I really like your show and I appreciate your hard work, thank you. Congratulations on getting married and if you don’t mind I have one piece of advice on a long successful marriage ( I’ve been married for over 32 years, high school sweethearts) COMPROMISE! Take care and FIGHT ON!!

Love ROT for all of their personal insight and fair takes on all things SC. I have been listening for close to 5 years and love interacting with Michael and Alicia on Twitter as well. Thank You guys for all of the awesome content and making the off-season and Monday-Friday go by quicker!

Long time religious listener, first time reviewer. First of all, congratulations on getting married and Godspeed! On a technical note, been noticing some audio issues in your last couple of episodes on Apple Podcasts in the form of intermittent distracting pauses in your audio. Thought it was my phone or headset, but I just listened through 2 hours of other podcasts and everything seems fine on my end. Would love if you can troubleshoot that somehow. Otherwise, glad to have you back for the Lincoln Riley era. My seat belts are buckled and I’m ready to Fight On and beat the Owls! Let’s GO!!!

Michael and Alicia give you all you want to know about USC football in an entertaining and engaging podcast!!!

This show is a Good Penny. It somehow shows up just when I need a warm smile mixed in with some a solid football update. Keep at it guys.

This podcast has become a lot like USC’s season. Great 5 stars when they show up, but that’s only been like 3 times this season

Long time listener, recent reviewer. There are no football reasons why anyone should love this show, but there are myriad reasons outside football and save for the food takes. 10/10 would recommend to a friend. Looking forward to where Shill-Licia will focus her homer energy and when Michael will convince Alicia to watch Seinfeld and make What’s The Deal with ROT? Or a better podcast title, still pending.

Alicia and Michael always manage to find the right balance of emotion and reason! During this tough season this podcast is still something I look forward to every time. Thank you for giving me and other fans some great content and let’s hope we get much more of optimistic Alicia very soon! Fight on! ✌️

Love this podcast! Been listening for years now and its my Go-to for SC news and game previews. Can’t imagine SC football without Micheal and Alicia!

Raw, insightful, and full of levity! Alicia’s reaction to “Clay-ton’s” firing yesterday was incredibly raw passion, entirely shared by all real SC football fans including yours truly (fan since mid-70s (long before Alicia & Michael were born) cardinal-and-gold bleeding TMB alum). We now have hope for near future national prominence… Fight On!!

Been listening since almost the beginning. The show has improved exponentially since Josh Webb left. I always eagerly await the Carcasts (especially after losses) and keep hitting refresh starting Sunday morning. Keep up the great content, Alicia and Michael!

I remember thinking that Alicia’s significant other should be nervous because the chemistry between her and Michael was too good. Congratulations on the engagement. May you have a truly great marriage. Oh and the podcast is great too.