Though I guess if sports are prioritized over everything else, which seems about right, then sure. We are happy to destroy the science/tech ecosystem and talent pipeline while focusing on how much money student-athletes should be paid. People pay far more attention to the latter than the former, opiate of the masses and all that.

USC is an excellent school, especially in some areas.

NB: I put in ~5 minutes to look into the debt. Apparently much of it seems like it's interest rates on the debt and not actual overspending. So, inflation, yay! The $200 million settlement for the appalling behavior by the USC doctor probably contributes but is not dominant. Athletics seems to break even, so sports are suffering because of the university.