College Football Playoff or bust. That is what the USC Trojans face heading into a pressure-packed year five of the disappointing Lincoln Riley era.
Key Roster Retention in the Backfield and Offensive Line
Kendell Hollowell (SI.com) — It starts at the quarterback position with Jayden Maiava deciding to bypass the 2026 NFL Draft and return to school for his redshirt senior year. The Trojans signal-caller has started 31 career games and enters his third season under Riley. He gives the team veteran leadership at the most important position and …
Waymond Jordan burst onto the scene last season and emerged as one of the top running backs in the Big Ten, if not the country. He was excellent through five and a half games before an ankle injury in early October ended his season. In his absence, King Miller had a breakout season and went from fourth-string walk-on, to one of the most productive running backs in the conference. The two of them return to form a dynamic running back duo for the Trojans in 2026.
Jordan and Miller will have the luxury of running behind an offensive line that returns all five starters and signed recruits such as five-star Keenyi Pepe, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, and four-star Breck Kolojay. USC could do some reshuffling on the offensive line this fall, but what they do have is size, experience and depth. It is without a doubt their best offensive front in Riley’s five years at USC.
Even though Riley comes from the Air Raid coaching tree and is known for his quarterback development, his most successful offenses are the ones that can run the ball effectively at a high rate and have a balanced approach. Southern Cal should have both this season.
USC Hires College Football Hall of Famer to Change Defensive Culture
Former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left USC the day before their bowl game last season to take the same job at Penn State, his alma mater. Riley faced the most critical decision of his coaching career this offseason and hired former longtime TCU head coach and 2026 College Football Hall of Fame electee Gary Patterson.
Riley had become very familiar with Patterson from their days in the Big 12. The two had floated the idea of joining forces jokingly years ago, and in January they made it a reality. Patterson built elite defenses for two decades with the Horned Frogs, and he did so with non blue-chip recruits. Patterson’s history of player development speaks for itself. Now, the 66-year-old coach will have more talent than he’s ever had before, particularly on the defensive line, a unit that can go three-deep.
Patterson brought over one of his longtime assistants in Paul Gonzales to coach the safeties and one of his former players, Sam Carter, who was an All-American safety, to coach the nickels. The Trojans also retained key staff members such as cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed and defensive ends coach Shaun Nua. Defensive tackles coach Skyler Jones and outside linebackers coach AJ Howard were promoted to their full-time roles.
What if Riley had a good enough defense to complement his high-powered offenses? It’s a question that has surrounded him since he first took Oklahoma to the playoffs in 2017. That could finally be answered and then some.
USC Pulls Mike Ekeler Away From Nebraska
There are three facets to the game of football, and new linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler can drastically improve two of them. Linebacker play was average at best in 2025 and special teams blunders against Notre Dame and Oregon proved to be costly in those two losses. Ekeler has a proven track record of elevating both to an elite level, which is why Riley pulled the longtime college football assistant away from Nebraska in January.
Ekeler brings a fiery and passionate personality to the staff that is infectious and his impact was immediately felt this spring.
“That’s what really good coaches do. They don’t just come in and impact their own position, they impact the entire program,” Riley said in March.
USC Retools Pass-Catchers for Jayden Maiava
Sophomore Tanook Hines started alongside Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane last season as true freshman. He is expected to step into the WR1 role. NC State transfer Terrell Anderson was the teams lone addition at receiver in the portal. Instead of leaning heavily into the portal to retool its wide receiver room, the Trojans signed an impressive group of freshmen receivers.
Trent Mosley (4) reshaped the California hierarchy in 2025 and guided Santa Margarita (Calif.) to an Open Division state championship, earning MaxPreps California Player of the Year honors and first team All-American honors in the process. In the spring, Mosley picked up where he left off and drew lofty praise from veterans and the coaching staff from the very first practice. The electric wideout has emerged as the favorite to start in the slot in this fall.
USC flipped Kayden Dixon-Wyatt from Ohio State on National Signing Day in December, and the Mater Dei (Calif.) product quickly proved why the Trojans never stopped pursuing him last fall. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is an explosive receiver with a knack from make tough catches. He is another freshman that drew rave reviews from veterans and coaches throughout the spring.
Boobie Feaster is a decorated player from the state of Texas that held nearly 30 offers before he reached high school. Feaster was a two-time state champion and three-time MaxPreps All-American in three seasons at DeSoto. Both he and Dixon-Wyatt were top 50 overall prospects in the 2026 class. Tron Baker is another freshman receiver to keep an eye on.
Five-star freshman Mark Bowman leads a revamped tight end room. The Mater Dei product drew comparison to Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers throughout the recruiting process because of his elite blend of size, speed, athleticism and route running at the position. He is the most talented tight end Riley has had since Mark Andrews almost a decade ago at Oklahoma.
USC Set to Open Bloom Football Performance Center
The much-anticipated opening of the Bloom Football Performance Center is almost here. The Trojans will open their state-of-the-art $200 million dollar facility in July.
The three-story building will feature a locker room and players lounge, with additional spaces for sports medicine, nutrition, recovery, sports science, and a weight room with direct access to the turf field. New team and position meetings rooms.
Facilities don’t win games but taking care of players off the field can lead to better performances on the field, especially with the recovery and nutrition aspect.
New Direction in Singular Transfer Portal Window
After seeing mixed results from its transfers last season, the Trojans went with a new approach during the singular transfer portal window in January. They went after players that have proven production at the Power Four level, instead of players that either come from the Group of Five level, were just highly rated recruits coming out of high school or had a big school attached to their name.
Terrell Anderson was a former top 100 recruit in the 2024 class and has appeared in every game the past two seasons for the Wolfpack. Anderson had a breakout year last season and the expectation is the 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior receiver continues to ascend working under receivers coach Dennis Simmons, who has produced multiple Biletnikoff Award winners, first-round draft picks and All-Americans.
Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams (3) was rated as the No. 1 cornerback in the portal according to Rivals and 247Sports. The redshirt senior is coming off an ACL injury but is expected to be cleared this summer and be a plug-and-play starter in the fall. Williams has appeared in 32 career games, including 19 starts in his career. He was a second team All-Big-12 selection in 2024 after recording four interceptions.
The Trojans stayed in the Big Ten to strengthen its defensive front. Alex VanSumeren was a two-year starter at Michigan State and gives USC veteran leadership and toughness in the interior of its defense. Penn State transfer Zuriah Fisher is a seventh year senior that gives the Trojans another effective pass rusher off the edge.
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Speaking of great USC linebackers of the past, here’s what AI says: USC’s last bonafide (consensus) All-American linebacker was Chris Claiborne in 1998. During that standout season, he became the first—and so far only—Trojan to win the prestigious Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top college linebacker. While USC has had some standout individual defenders recently (such as safety Calen Bullock and defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu who earned various First-Team All-American honors in 2022), the program has not placed a linebacker on the consensus All-American list since Claiborne’s dominant 1998 campaign. If you are looking for other historic USC linebackers… Read more »
I would certainly throw in Brian Kushing and the Clay Matthews of 2008 in there. But even if you agree to throw in those names that’s still 18 years since we’ve had a great LB
SC has been able to pile up outstanding DL recruits and outstanding secondary recruits and outstanding receiver and tight end recruits as well as RB’s, QB’s and OL recruits. But for some reason the really great LB recruits have chosen to go somewhere else even if they are local kids. The last really great LB’s that we have had have been a ways back. Maybe Cam Smith. He had 354 tackles in 4 years with 4 interceptions(3 in one game) and about 4 fumble recoveries. But for some reason the great LB’s think the grass is greener at many other… Read more »
Parcelman007 I have been harping about recruiting undersized linebacker position, particularly the Mike. And like you, I am at a loss wondering why. It doesn’t make sense.
When you think of all the great LB’s SC has had down through the years, it doesn’t make sense that they don’t want to go there today. If anyone has answers as to why, please enlighten me.
One of the things I’m looking for is what the new D staff can do with the LBs they have and how the 4-2-5 scheme will work. If the current LBs are developing into play makers then others will want to come to SC. 5 new LBs are here for this year, 3 recruits and 2 transfers.
USC QB Jayden Maiava is among the dozen or so college quarterbacks invited to the Manning Passing Academy camp, as counselors, at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. Some pro QBs will be there as well. Arch Manning (Texas), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), C.J. Carr (Notre Dame) and Trinidad Chambliss are among the other quarterbacks invited. Good chance for him to connect with elite QBs.
I’d take every one of those QBs as well as a few others over Maiava for USC. We had a great one in Heisman winner/#1 draft pick Caleb Williams and Riley still couldn’t do much with him at USC — when Riley didn’t know defense and special teams mattered..
For the first time in a long time I’am optimistic. Do I expect a NC….no…..but for the first time in many moons a playoff slot may not be probable but is certainly possible. For me this season is about an improving team colliding with a schedule that is probably the toughest USC has played since……decades. We actually have depth, improving quality and experience on the OL. We have not had juniors and seniors of quality on our OL for a long time. The WR’s look down slightly but the QB is experienced. Can he use good judgment under stress….we’ll see.… Read more »
September 26th will tell us all we need to know about this team and season. Beat Oregon and you could say this team could go toe to toe with anybody else on their schedule
We get ’em at home. First tough game of the year. We also owe them damn Ducks big-time. We haven’t beat ORE in 10 years and they are 8-2 against USC since 2009 with ORE winning four straight.
I understand that the Oregon OL had some issues in their spring game. They are breaking in three new starters. Hopefully they continue to have issues. From my point of view 40% seems reasonable. Home field helps.
If we happen to beat them it will be a special year. Either way….what a game it is going to be. Only about another month and half til fall camp!
2016….that was a great year….we beat Oregon, Washington, UCLA, ND and Penn State. Had we started Sam Darnold from game one, I think we would have been 12-1 instead of 10-3.
Boy, at this point I would say 50-50. Too many unknowns for this team at the receivers and defensive backfield. But for USC to go 9-3, Oregon or Ohio St will have to be the one they beat out of the big 4 games. LR’s road record especially the further east he has to go is well established.
I guess, if I understand, you are more or less calling the Penn St and Indiana games a probable loss. Got to clean up at home.
If Riley wants to continue to be considered a good coach (LOL) he is going to have to beat a good team back east at some point or another. Let’s hope he figures at least the basics out for one of those games at Indiana or Penn St.
As an aside, I think the Washington game could also be a struggle.
Based on Riley’s past performance, yes Indy and Penn St are likely losses. So beating Oregon or Ohio St and beating all the others is what he will have to do. Now if he can be Penn St as well as both Ducks and Bucks, he will have really improved as a coach.
With our new staff, specifically Ekeler and Patterson, those key additions could/should truly be the reasons for any of USC’s improvement as opposed to Riley, whose main contribution outside of offense should be just staying out of the way of those coaches.
Without those new coaches, I’d have no confidence in USC whatsoever, especially with this schedule.
They’re stoking my charcoal football furnace with wadded newspaper clippings. It might work, but I usually have to see it relit a couple of times. At least the charcoal is good brand.
Okay sounds good in the trenches and QB, RB. Sounds like it is standing room only in the receivers room. The defensive backfield didn’t get a whole lot of rah rah. Will the WRs, TEs, LBs and DBs step up to their starting roles and perform better than last years starters? That will be the question for me. Of course how will the HC perform on game day with all this talent? If he has a pretty good defense and talent to run a balanced offensive attack he better not screw this up.
Kendell Hollowell (SI.com) — It starts at the quarterback position with Jayden Maiava deciding to bypass the 2026 NFL Draft and return to school for his redshirt senior year. The Trojans signal-caller has started 31 career games and enters his third season under Riley. He gives the team veteran leadership at the most important position and …
Former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left USC the day before their bowl game last season to take the same job at Penn State, his alma mater. Riley faced the most critical decision of his coaching career this offseason and hired former longtime TCU head coach and 2026 College Football Hall of Fame electee Gary Patterson.
There are three facets to the game of football, and new linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler can drastically improve two of them. Linebacker play was average at best in 2025 and special teams blunders against Notre Dame and Oregon proved to be costly in those two losses. Ekeler has a proven track record of elevating both to an elite level, which is why Riley pulled the longtime college football assistant away from Nebraska in January.
Sophomore Tanook Hines started alongside Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane last season as true freshman. He is expected to step into the WR1 role. NC State transfer Terrell Anderson was the teams lone addition at receiver in the portal. Instead of leaning heavily into the portal to retool its wide receiver room, the Trojans signed an impressive group of freshmen receivers. 
The much-anticipated opening of the Bloom Football Performance Center is almost here. The Trojans will open their state-of-the-art $200 million dollar facility in July.
Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams (3) was rated as the No. 1 cornerback in the portal according to Rivals and 247Sports. The redshirt senior is coming off an ACL injury but is expected to be cleared this summer and be a plug-and-play starter in the fall. Williams has appeared in 32 career games, including 19 starts in his career. He was a second team All-Big-12 selection in 2024 after recording four interceptions.
Speaking of great USC linebackers of the past, here’s what AI says: USC’s last bonafide (consensus) All-American linebacker was Chris Claiborne in 1998. During that standout season, he became the first—and so far only—Trojan to win the prestigious Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top college linebacker. While USC has had some standout individual defenders recently (such as safety Calen Bullock and defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu who earned various First-Team All-American honors in 2022), the program has not placed a linebacker on the consensus All-American list since Claiborne’s dominant 1998 campaign. If you are looking for other historic USC linebackers… Read more »
I would certainly throw in Brian Kushing and the Clay Matthews of 2008 in there. But even if you agree to throw in those names that’s still 18 years since we’ve had a great LB
SC has been able to pile up outstanding DL recruits and outstanding secondary recruits and outstanding receiver and tight end recruits as well as RB’s, QB’s and OL recruits. But for some reason the really great LB recruits have chosen to go somewhere else even if they are local kids. The last really great LB’s that we have had have been a ways back. Maybe Cam Smith. He had 354 tackles in 4 years with 4 interceptions(3 in one game) and about 4 fumble recoveries. But for some reason the great LB’s think the grass is greener at many other… Read more »
Parcelman007 I have been harping about recruiting undersized linebacker position, particularly the Mike. And like you, I am at a loss wondering why. It doesn’t make sense.
When you think of all the great LB’s SC has had down through the years, it doesn’t make sense that they don’t want to go there today. If anyone has answers as to why, please enlighten me.
One of the things I’m looking for is what the new D staff can do with the LBs they have and how the 4-2-5 scheme will work. If the current LBs are developing into play makers then others will want to come to SC. 5 new LBs are here for this year, 3 recruits and 2 transfers.
USC QB Jayden Maiava is among the dozen or so college quarterbacks invited to the Manning Passing Academy camp, as counselors, at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. Some pro QBs will be there as well. Arch Manning (Texas), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), C.J. Carr (Notre Dame) and Trinidad Chambliss are among the other quarterbacks invited. Good chance for him to connect with elite QBs.
I’d take every one of those QBs as well as a few others over Maiava for USC. We had a great one in Heisman winner/#1 draft pick Caleb Williams and Riley still couldn’t do much with him at USC — when Riley didn’t know defense and special teams mattered..
For the first time in a long time I’am optimistic. Do I expect a NC….no…..but for the first time in many moons a playoff slot may not be probable but is certainly possible. For me this season is about an improving team colliding with a schedule that is probably the toughest USC has played since……decades. We actually have depth, improving quality and experience on the OL. We have not had juniors and seniors of quality on our OL for a long time. The WR’s look down slightly but the QB is experienced. Can he use good judgment under stress….we’ll see.… Read more »
September 26th will tell us all we need to know about this team and season. Beat Oregon and you could say this team could go toe to toe with anybody else on their schedule
GT…..What’s the chance we beat Oregon……your estimate?
I estimate 40%.
We get ’em at home. First tough game of the year. We also owe them damn Ducks big-time. We haven’t beat ORE in 10 years and they are 8-2 against USC since 2009 with ORE winning four straight.
I understand that the Oregon OL had some issues in their spring game. They are breaking in three new starters. Hopefully they continue to have issues. From my point of view 40% seems reasonable. Home field helps.
If we happen to beat them it will be a special year. Either way….what a game it is going to be. Only about another month and half til fall camp!
2016….that was a great year….we beat Oregon, Washington, UCLA, ND and Penn State. Had we started Sam Darnold from game one, I think we would have been 12-1 instead of 10-3.
Almost pulled it off in 2020, but the refs ended the game with the ball still in play. Time ran out but we were still advancing the ball.
Boy, at this point I would say 50-50. Too many unknowns for this team at the receivers and defensive backfield. But for USC to go 9-3, Oregon or Ohio St will have to be the one they beat out of the big 4 games. LR’s road record especially the further east he has to go is well established.
I guess, if I understand, you are more or less calling the Penn St and Indiana games a probable loss. Got to clean up at home.
If Riley wants to continue to be considered a good coach (LOL) he is going to have to beat a good team back east at some point or another. Let’s hope he figures at least the basics out for one of those games at Indiana or Penn St.
As an aside, I think the Washington game could also be a struggle.
Based on Riley’s past performance, yes Indy and Penn St are likely losses. So beating Oregon or Ohio St and beating all the others is what he will have to do. Now if he can be Penn St as well as both Ducks and Bucks, he will have really improved as a coach.
With our new staff, specifically Ekeler and Patterson, those key additions could/should truly be the reasons for any of USC’s improvement as opposed to Riley, whose main contribution outside of offense should be just staying out of the way of those coaches.
Without those new coaches, I’d have no confidence in USC whatsoever, especially with this schedule.
They’re stoking my charcoal football furnace with wadded newspaper clippings. It might work, but I usually have to see it relit a couple of times. At least the charcoal is good brand.
Okay sounds good in the trenches and QB, RB. Sounds like it is standing room only in the receivers room. The defensive backfield didn’t get a whole lot of rah rah. Will the WRs, TEs, LBs and DBs step up to their starting roles and perform better than last years starters? That will be the question for me. Of course how will the HC perform on game day with all this talent? If he has a pretty good defense and talent to run a balanced offensive attack he better not screw this up.
What we have here is a full pitcher of Kool-ade, but what the hell. We gotta wear our rose colored glasses before the season starts, right?