UCLA is top seed this year; USC is No. 5 for NCAA beach volleyball tournament
The Bruins are seeking their first national title since 2019, while fifth-seeded USC is trying to win its fifth straight this week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. LMU is seeded fourth and Long Beach State is seeded ninth.
UCLA is the top seed and USC is seeded fifth for the 16-team NCAA beach volleyball tournament, which begins Friday morning in Gulf Shores, Alabama. (Photo by Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics)
OC Register staff — Top-ranked UCLA (30-6) received the No. 1 seed for the three-day NCAA beach volleyball tournament on Sunday, while four-time defending national champion USC was seeded fifth.
The Bruins will face 16th-seeded Chattanooga (26-5) on Friday at 8 a.m. PT when the single-elimination tournament begins in Gulf Shores, Alabama. USC (26-10) will face Atlantic Sun champion #17 North Florida (25-10) on Friday at 7 a.m.
Loyola Marymount (35-6) is the No. 4 seed and will face No. 14 Florida Atlantic (21-14) at 6 a.m., while Long Beach State (27-11) is seeded ninth and will open against No. 8 seed Florida State (25-12) at 9 a.m.
Other first-round matches include: No. 2 TCU (28-5) vs. No. 15 Georgia State (22-16) at 10 a.m., No. 7 Texas (27-9) vs. No. 10 Cal (27-9) at 11 a.m., No. 3 Stanford (31-8) vs. No. 14 Boise State (23-11) at noon and No. 6 Cal Poly (29-7) vs. No. 11 LSU (24-12) at 1 p.m.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played on Saturday, with the championship match scheduled for Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
The Bruins won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2018 and 2019 and have been the runner-up three times, with two third-place finishes. UCLA has lost to USC in the final in three of the past four years.
USC won its first national title in 2015 (AVCA), then won the first two NCAA titles in 2016 and 2017 before its run of four straight.
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA – MAY 5: USC’s Olivia Bakos #5, Nicole Nourse #42 and Audrey Nourse #24 celebrate after defeating UCLA during the Div I Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship held at Gulf Shores Public Beach on May 5, 2024 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
No school other than USC or UCLA has won the title in the NCAA era, with Florida State a three-time runner-up.
Championship History (Recent):
2024:USC (3-0 win over UCLA)
2023:USC (3-2 win over UCLA)
2022:USC (3-1 win over Florida State)
2021:USC (3-1 win over UCLA)
2020:Championship canceled due to COVID-19
2019:UCLA (3-0 win over USC)
Eight of the 16 teams in this year’s field received automatic berths by winning their conference championships.
The tournament will be played in single-elimination duals with 10 athletes split into five pairs from each team. The dual meet match is formatted in five best-of-three sets, pairs matches, with each pairs match being worth one point.
ESPN2 will provide live coverage on Friday and Saturday, with the championship dual on Sunday to air on ESPN.
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Robert Woods signs a one-year contract with the Steelers
Between 2010 and 2012, consensus AA Woods played for USC under HC Lane Kiffin. Woods came to USC after Pete Carroll left for the Seahawks, following his eight-year Trojan dynasty. In what many expected to be a string of low years for the Trojans, Woods led Kiffin’s team to an 8-5 record in his first season, 10-2 in year two, and a 7-6 record in his third season.
USC misses the cut with Joel Klatt Klatt’s post-spring top 25. USC plays five: 1. Penn State 2. Texas 3. Ohio State 4. Oregon — Nov. 22 in Eugene We forgot about Dante Moore, who was a highly recruited quarterback who played for Chip Kelly as a freshman in 2023. He played behind a bad offensive line that year, and he had a rough game against Utah that year that caused his season to go south. Now, he’ll get another chance at starting after sitting behind Dillon Gabriel. He’s a good fit for offensive coordinator Will Stein’s system and a dark-horse Heisman… Read more »
Trojan Baseball Punks #14 Rated UCLA Mitch Light (The Athletic) — USC took a big step forward to securing its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 by taking two of three from rival UCLA at “home” (the Trojans play their games in Irvine while construction moves forward toward their new on-campus stadium). USC opened its first season in the B1G by getting swept by ORE in Irvine, but has since won eight straight series (seven in league play). The Trojans are now 32-15 overall and 16-8 in the B1G with an RPI of No. 38. (RPI) — In college baseball,… Read more »
Jordan Marsh commits to USC men’s basketball Jordan Marsh was named the Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year at UNC Asheville last season. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC men’s basketball received a transfer portal commitment from former UNC Asheville guard Jordan Marsh Sunday. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was named the Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year last season after averaging 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 44.8 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range. Marsh will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. Marsh (5-10, 165) is a quick and athletic guard… Read more »
USC ranks #6 overall for recruits and transfers for 2025 according to 247sports. Hope The Muscle Man finally has got the talent and can keep them around.
I think Marsh is a great pick up by Muss. We needed another ball handler, and he looks quick enough to stay with faster guards, a real weakness last year. And Allen, I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Trojans just took the tree game series vs. fucla 2 games to 1. What a day to be a USC fan
Another thought on this May Gray SoCal Sunday. The letting go of S/CC Wylie at the end of spring. I have no doubt Cohen and Bowden with input from the coaching staff will find a quality guy. The question is who will it be? S/CC typically are tied to the HC. Will the new guy be; Bowden’s guy, LR’s new guy, D Lynn’s guy, a window into the new HC, or an interim guy looking to prove himself? Rumor has it USC went after Owings at Indiana but he then got a big raise and new contract. Seems like SC… Read more »
UCF transfer CB Chasen Johnson makes second commitment to USC Chris Trevino (USCFootball.com) — For the second time, USC football landed a commitment from former UCF CB Chasen Johnson on Sunday, the program’s fourth transfer addition of the spring window. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Johnson, a rising soph, was initially the first commitment for USC’s 2025 transfer class back in December but ended up remaining with Knights. Johnson is the fourth spring transfer pick up alongside safety Kennedy Urlacher (ND), LB Ta’Mere Robinson (PSU) and WR Zacharyus Williams (UTAH). Johnson attracted other Power 4 programs like SMU, BAY, AUB and FSU back when he entered the portal in December of last year. He ended… Read more »
USC adds commitment from high-upside WR Luc Weaver Sherman Oaks (CA) Notre Dame wide receiver Luc Weaver became USC’s latest commitment (#27) as the Trojans built their lead as the nation’s No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class. Blair Angulo (USCFootball.com) — WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX? Only a couple weeks removed from an official visit to Utah, the impressive pass-catcher from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame decided he wanted to stay close to home. Weaver had also taken unofficial visits to UCLA and Washington for each team’s junior day events, and scheduled officials with the Huskies (May 30) and Minnesota (June 13), but those trips now appear off the… Read more »
This 2026 class just keeps growing and has talent as well. I wonder what Chad Bowden is selling them? Specifically with the position of Head Coach. These kids and their advisers must know what a lousy job LR has done with regards to game day management. Is he telling them either LR will get his act together in 25 or Jen Cohen and him will find a HC that is a winner? Either way by 26 USC will have a quality HC for them to win NC.
This is why the 2025 season can make or break all Bowdens hard work. Should Riley continue game mismanagement tendencies, have another poor record, lose against bottom dweller teams, or continue the impulse to pass when confused, we’ll see decommits in droves.
USC Snags Elite 5-10.5, 170 pound CB Elbert Hill Scott Schrader (WeAreSC.com) — USC currently has four of the top southern California DBs committed in RJ Sermons, Madden Riordan, Brandon Lockhart and Josh Holland. The Trojans’ 2026 DB class from SoCal could be off-the-charts good with potential addition of SoCal CBs Brandon Arrington, Jeron Jones and S Davon Benjamin. USC just added a commitment from Cleveland (OH) CB Elbert Hill on Friday morning, so the Trojans have commitments from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8 ranked corners in Hill, Sermons and Lockhart. Arrington is ranked the No. 1 CB, Benjamin the No. 5 CB and Jones is ranked… Read more »
USC just got a commitment from Elbert Hill, the # 1 player in the state of Ohio.According to Scott Wolf, this class is greatly over valued. To me that means that Bowden and Co. have struck Gold(again)
On 04/28/2025 Andy Staples at On3 released his top 25 college football teams for 2025. USC was not forecasted in his top 25 teams for 2025. Staples number one 2025 football team was Texas, followed by Notre Dame.
This Trojan wonders what impact a mediocre 2025 season might have on the 2026 class?
Most on this site know what I’am about to state and it is reasonable that other opinions will exist. Everybody wants to play for a winner (among a thousand other factors) however, a lot of the better players focus on who else is in the class because it’s about the future. Keeping a top notch QB or landing one makes a big difference to others. A powerful nose tackle/DL allows others to show their stuff. We have these folks either in the pipeline or landed. Development of the talent that exists is also big for folks that have NFL potential.… Read more »
Illinois I agree with all however, another 7 & 5 record will put doubts in the top athletes minds about the coaching staff’s ability to develop players. It also makes it easier for other programs to flip our top athletes saying is there any guarantee you will getting the best coaching? I feel this season must end with a better record than 2024 if we want to see the 2026 class retained without damaging losses. This season will be crucial for LR to show he is able to help win games rather than help lose them with his game management… Read more »
USC lands massive commitment from four-star OT Keenyi Pepe Erik McKinney (WeAreSC.com) — The #1 Trojan 2026 recruiting class is so impressive that it’s been difficult to single out the one biggest commitment to this point. But Thursday brought in a strong contender for that title as four-star OT Keenyi Pepe from the IMG Academy announced his USC commitment. The big OT is the nation’s No. 44 overall prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 5 OT and the No. 5 prospect in Florida (though Pepe grew up in Long Beach, CA, where his family still resides). He shows… Read more »
Boom!
This kid is the type of recruit that if he sticks and develops could anchor a line that could win a national championship in a couple years. This is a CPC level recruit.
The progress is continuing.
USC also doing well so far in the portal, per Rivals Adam Friedman (Rivals.com) — The only loss the Trojans suffered was edge defender Lorenzo Cowan, who ended up at UK. HC Lincoln Riley and company landed two defenders who have very high ceilings. The first was safety Kennedy Urlacher, the son of NFL Hall of Fame LB Brian Urlacher. The former ND DB made quick work of his transfer process before announcing for USC. A couple of days later, USC officially signed former PSU LB Ta’Mere Robinson, who was primed to play a lot this season for the Nittany Lions. The Trojans also added some help at receiver… Read more »
Women of Troy add AUB forward Yakiya Milton from transfer portal The 6-foot-5 forward gives USC some much-needed length. Ahmad Akkaoui (USCFootball.com) — USC women’s basketball picked up its fourth commitment from the transfer portal Wednesday in Auburn soph forward Yakiya Milton. The 6-foot-5 forward from Jacksonville, Fla. spent two seasons with the Tigers. She played in 25 games as a freshman and 19 games in her second season. She scored 36 points in each of her first two seasons, shooting 38.9 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively, and averaging 2.0 rebounds and 2.3 rebounds, respectively, in her first two collegiate seasons. She improved her… Read more »
WR Roderick Tezeno commits to the Trojans, talking national championship USC’s #1 2026 recruiting class racked up yet another commitment Wednesday as Opelousas (La.) three-star WR Roderick Tezeno (6-2, 175) committed (No. 24) to the Trojans… Gerard Martinez (USCFootball.com) — Tezeno chose the Trojans over UK, TUL, MO, MISS ST, GT, GA and HOU. Tezeno — “I talk to everyone at USC. They’ve got big things going on, and they really want me to be a part of that. This is the class they want to have really set something up. This class is the one they want to get… Read more »
Lucky to be alive Top USC 2025 basketball recruit Alijah Arenas has been released from the hospital, on road to full recovery after he completely wrecked his Cybertruck just before 5 am last Thursday in Reseda, family says. Drugs and alcohol were not suspected to be a factor in the crash.
I thought the Cybertruck was ugly, but this is a whole new level of ugly. I noticed a sign post in the picture. ( probably said “slow tree ahead”)
I’m glad the Trojan is okay, he just needs to slow his horse a bit
Looks like a residential neighborhood. Amazing recklessness, speed and danger in such an area. Nothing good about this except Arenas’ prospects for recovery.
OU fans and analysts were right Matt Zemek (Trojans Wire) — Payton Guthrie (of the Through the Keyhole Sooner football podcast) noted that while Bennie Wylie’s methods are certainly worth examining, the value and performance of a strength coach should be considered from another added vantage point. Guthrie said that strength coaching is about mindset and attitude as much as it is about teaching a certain technique in developing one’s body. Because strength coaches spend so much time with players — often more than the head coach — they are often the central voice of accountability for football players. Bennie Wylie, Guthrie… Read more »
Bennie Wylie was on shaky ground after his first year at USC. He had more than his share of detractors, many of whom were OU followers. Some would have simply called his performance “disappointing,” given how USC’s players responded to his strength and conditioning approach to player development. But he left OU to follow LR’s Cardinal and Gold footsteps. I think many thought Wylie was going to be replaced after year one or two on the job. His quicker, smaller approach was a bust. But he seemed to have survived last year’s worrisome 6-6 reg season, where USC caved so… Read more »
But I thought the reason Wylie went for the smaller quicker guys was because that’s what Grinch wanted. I do want to see LR upgrade his staff but on that rationale he probably should have gotten rid of Zach Hansen. With USC presently in the headlines, this would have been a perfect opportunity to bring in a great O-Line coach. Why did they hang onto him? Is it because him and his wife are so much a part of USC. Hey, this is a business. If a guy can’t get the job done then it’s time to bring in another… Read more »
So apparently, the Grinch left an even longer and darker shadow over USC football than we ever imagined. Not only did he orchestrate the complete ruination of the USC defense, he was also setting back the entire Trojan S/C program. Kind of like a double negative bonus. And I thought LR was supposedly in charge of all this stuff. Thank God for Chad Bowden.
I’ll agree that if he was not that good, they should have gotten rid of him a long time ago. I’m just saying that if the DC tells you he wants light and quick D-Linemen then I would think that Wylie would have to obey. So I would think it would be LR’s responsibility to say no to Grinch and he didn’t. That’s been established. But I fail to see how they blame Wylie for doing what he was told to do.
Nowadays, it’s common to hear the phrase, “Two things can be true at the same time.” I don’t really blame Wylie here. He was possibly just a soldier doing what he was told. We’ve all had bosses before. But that raises the issue of why, in the first place, would LR hire two very important assistants who may have totally disagreed on how USC should build its players. That would seem like a staff marriage that would butt heads a lot. We don’t really know how much input Wylie had, or if he had any original, promising plans of his… Read more »
Didn’t want any assistants to really challenge him. Understandable, but a good leader listens to input from everyone, even from those with contrary views.
I seriously doubt LR would enjoy being compared to downward-sliding, now clownish Bill Belichick these days. Even close friend Charles Barkley is worried about him.
Here he is, in full red-carpet mode, with the suddenly dominant and attention-seeking 24-year old gold digger Jordon Hudson, his new mate-in-charge. At least he’s letting her wear one of his Super Bowl rings. She let him keep four for the photo. 😂
No words for this. So obvious what’s going on here. Clownish was as good of a description as possible for what he’s become. Can’t imagine how this is playing with the 18-22 year old NC players.
With GM Chad Bowden in charge and Jen Cohen’s committed checkbook, I’m sure USC will bring in a superior S/C guy. Can’t wait to see where all the connections were built, and who we rob for this new open position.
The USC football program is more intriguing than any program in the country right now. Pure rocket fuel, with dozens of questions still begging to be answered in terms of holes in the roster and LR’s offensive plans for next season, which are so crucial to LR’s hot seat existence with the fans at USC.
I’m more excited about this year than any since LR year 1, and now not just because of LR and CW. In fact, my excitement now is based on everything except LR. It’s the entire program trajectory.
Yes, Riley has a much better support system and coaches this coming year. Lynn and his staff is among the nations best.
Riley is a good OC.
It might come down to if Maiava has improved reading the defense and accuracy. If so it should be a good year.
I have read elsewhere, more than once, that Maiava had an absolutely horrible final spring practice/game. I don’t have any factual basis for that possibly unreliable info. Maybe it’s incorrect. Maybe it’s not relevant to what happens in Sept. But Bennie Wylie, our only S/C coach since LR arrived, was thereafter quickly and surprisingly fired, with LR remarking that he was trying to position USC to win NCs.
It would not be comforting if the reason there was a closed spring game/scrimmage was how bad the offense is with a not getting it Maiava, not to talented Huard and still too green Longstreet.
Updated: Alijah Arenas expected to be released from the hospital with no major injuries Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — 2025 Five-star USC men’s basketball commit Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a serious car crash early Thursday morning and placed in a medically induced coma, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Arenas is progressing well and is expected to be released from the hospital with no major injuries, according to a statement made on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast Monday. “Happy to announce that Alijah is doing much better,” Josiah Johnson, one of the hosts of “Gil’s Arena,” said during… Read more »
Thankfully everyone got out okay. Every parent at one time or another thinks job one is getting your kid out of HS alive. HS boys should only drive a well built car with no power (Volvo with a 1.5 liter engine).
I drove an old plumbers truck– a 1955 Ford F-350 with dual wheels and tool lockers on each side on the truck bed. It was geared so low that if I went on the freeway and tried to go over 55 mph, it sounded like it would explode from high RPMs. Definitely NOT a chick magnet. I couldn’t get into much trouble with them wheels!
I do have one with my dad in it–the day he sold it. 2005! Only reason he let it go was that he could not get things like brake drums from Ford Obsolete any more…. That truck was used almost every week by generations of our family from 1964 until 2005!
If I can get a young person at my office to digitize the photo I will try to post it….
Front end same style, but your purple bombshell (man, would I love that truck) has a lowered, street rod stance. The backend looks way different. Each side had three tool bins that opened to the street. So, the truck bed was narrow, but only 4’x 8’, and the tool bin assembly was as high as the bottom of the rear window on the truck cab. It really was a working plumber’s truck—it even had a pipe vise on a pole welded to the rear bumper. My grandpa (who was a service manager at Kott & Smollar Ford in Wilmington) bought… Read more »
I drove a ’70 VW, my first ride, my SR year. What a great car. No bells and whistles. Scratchy radio. Lame antennae. Just fun to shift, perfect for parking and the beach, quick to clean, easy on gas, little maintenance. I ran it hard for seven years back in the days when Earl Scheib would paint your entire car for 30 bucks. Hard to believe. I couldn’t get a minor scratch detailed out for that now.
One of the services released their top 25 post spring. We play 6 of the top 25. Oregon, Notre Dame, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Nebraska. We also play improved UCLA and Michigan State.
OK…..we’ll see. No place to hide……and we should be considered lucky….no Penn St or Ohio State.
I’m not looking at UCLA as anything close to “improved.” It’s an overused term nowadays, but I think the Bruins remain a “dumpster fire” program. The little gutties are a putrid 50-56 since they took the field in 2016. This new, improved, and much more aggressive and intelligent version of USC football under GM Chad Bowden’s leadership of the new Trojan front office is suddenly a likely playoff team. What an amazing rejuvenation. DC D’Anton Lynn now has some real talent to work with. IOWA, ILL, MICH ST and NEB are all capable teams that seem less likely to make… Read more »
I can’t tell you how many places I have read about how improved ucla will be this year. Well I don’t see it. They lost some elite players on defense, and are replacing it with 3 start talent. Nico has a million$ arm, and a 10 cent head. He might destroy their locker room.I think they struggle to get bowl eligible.
OK….LOL….let me stir the soup……after all…….it’s all for entertainment…..and it’s April with nothing else to do. I await your reply. You don’t have to be polite……go ahead and punch. I’am ready to hit the floor. Granted…..Some of this stuff is a preseason guess. I don’t see a strong pass rush.. Lucas stops the run but moves slowly. Silver had one sack in 30 games. Jarrett did not flash. Fountain is the only one that as an offensive coach I would worry about…..and he might have an RB watching him because the rest don’t have it. The rest have not demonstrated… Read more »
Awesome illinoisusc. I agree with a lot of what you say and thanks for the effort you put into your viewpoint. This should give us all a lot to think about. I like the way you break down all the different facets of what USC can expect to do in 2025. For my viewpoint to work, the sum of the parts for USC must be greater that what they would seem to add up to. I, for some reason, have the feeling that Lincoln Riley has finally felt enough heat to get smart and start adapting to his weaknesses as… Read more »
Optimism in the spring has always seemed to be a USC football fan’s right of passage. I often fall victim.
Maybe it’s just a CFB thing, as all schools do whatever they can to drum up optimism and hope amongst their faithful followers. I think it’s all about hope, and all part of CFB’s overall charm, which we hope NIL and free agency won’t destroy.
And the last four months of USC football have objectively been too positive for me to ignore.
USC is on the way up no doubt about it, your optimism is warranted…….but I just thought I would provide an alternative view since the koolaid seemed to be getting a bit sugary…..and I would not mind hearing from others their view concerning some of the issues. We should have a good year. Whether we make the playoffs is yet to be determined but it is possible depending on whether a few key players develop.
As you know, as we enter fall the view should get clearer.
Thanks for understanding.
Ya, I totally empathize with your humorously astute assertion that “the Koolaid seemed to be getting a bit sugary“. As a USC fan, I have become very familiar with it, especially lately. I just hope “We Don’t Get Fooled Again…” But I’m willing to go down that road again because of all the new faces in USC’s front office and staff. It’s people who make the difference. And I do believe, right or wrong, that LR has been forced to confront some of his weaknesses if he expects to make it in L.A. with the Trojans. He didn’t have a… Read more »
Just caught this discussion and find it very interesting on many fronts. Both you and Ilinoisusc are hitting the positives and the concerns as we approach the 2025 season. Any head coach who would walk into the USC head coaching job right now, wouldn’t believe his eyes at the incredible program infrastructure Jen Cohen has created in the past couple of years. Of course question marks on our current roster abound, and rightfully so, but even that situation will correct in 2026 going forward. I guess the only area Jen can’t make a change, if she wanted to, is the… Read more »
Seems the biggest concern on offense right now isn’t so much the O-line as it is LRs playcalling and Maiava’s ball-handling discipline that keeps control of the ball on offense until we score or pin the opponent’s offense back deep on their side of the field, especially throughout the 4th quarter in games.
Quite a list. Defense is weak at pass rush, corners, and LB, but good at stopping the run. Offense is slightly better at OL, but lack depth, and weak at RB, receiving, QB, coaching. Sounds bleak. I agree with the weaknesses at LB, QB and coaching on offense. The rest I will take your word. Lets hope they pull it together. The schedule looks to me like 3 tough games and the rest winnable with last years talent and better coaching. 9-3 could happen as easily as 6-6.
Well-traveled Chad Baker-Mazara commits to USC men’s basketball The Trojan men now have 11 players for next season. Expect more to come. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — Former Auburn wing Chad Baker-Mazara committed to USC men’s basketball Monday. He gives the Trojans another talented and experienced contributor for next season. Baker-Mazara played the last two seasons at Auburn. He was a starter on the Tigers Final Four team this past season averaging 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Baker-Mazara shot 44.8 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three-point range. For his career, Baker-Mazara is an 87.8 percent free throw shooter. The left-handed Auburn… Read more »
Robert Woods signs a one-year contract with the Steelers
Between 2010 and 2012, consensus AA Woods played for USC under HC Lane Kiffin. Woods came to USC after Pete Carroll left for the Seahawks, following his eight-year Trojan dynasty. In what many expected to be a string of low years for the Trojans, Woods led Kiffin’s team to an 8-5 record in his first season, 10-2 in year two, and a 7-6 record in his third season.
USC misses the cut with Joel Klatt Klatt’s post-spring top 25. USC plays five: 1. Penn State 2. Texas 3. Ohio State 4. Oregon — Nov. 22 in Eugene We forgot about Dante Moore, who was a highly recruited quarterback who played for Chip Kelly as a freshman in 2023. He played behind a bad offensive line that year, and he had a rough game against Utah that year that caused his season to go south. Now, he’ll get another chance at starting after sitting behind Dillon Gabriel. He’s a good fit for offensive coordinator Will Stein’s system and a dark-horse Heisman… Read more »
Trojan Baseball Punks #14 Rated UCLA Mitch Light (The Athletic) — USC took a big step forward to securing its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 by taking two of three from rival UCLA at “home” (the Trojans play their games in Irvine while construction moves forward toward their new on-campus stadium). USC opened its first season in the B1G by getting swept by ORE in Irvine, but has since won eight straight series (seven in league play). The Trojans are now 32-15 overall and 16-8 in the B1G with an RPI of No. 38. (RPI) — In college baseball,… Read more »
Jordan Marsh commits to USC men’s basketball Jordan Marsh was named the Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year at UNC Asheville last season. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC men’s basketball received a transfer portal commitment from former UNC Asheville guard Jordan Marsh Sunday. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was named the Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year last season after averaging 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 44.8 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range. Marsh will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. Marsh (5-10, 165) is a quick and athletic guard… Read more »
USC ranks #6 overall for recruits and transfers for 2025 according to 247sports. Hope The Muscle Man finally has got the talent and can keep them around.
I think Marsh is a great pick up by Muss. We needed another ball handler, and he looks quick enough to stay with faster guards, a real weakness last year. And Allen, I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Trojans just took the tree game series vs. fucla 2 games to 1. What a day to be a USC fan
Love that. But surprised we lost the dual track meet to the Bruins. The men got beat 82-81. 😥
Another thought on this May Gray SoCal Sunday. The letting go of S/CC Wylie at the end of spring. I have no doubt Cohen and Bowden with input from the coaching staff will find a quality guy. The question is who will it be? S/CC typically are tied to the HC. Will the new guy be; Bowden’s guy, LR’s new guy, D Lynn’s guy, a window into the new HC, or an interim guy looking to prove himself? Rumor has it USC went after Owings at Indiana but he then got a big raise and new contract. Seems like SC… Read more »
UCF transfer CB Chasen Johnson makes second commitment to USC Chris Trevino (USCFootball.com) — For the second time, USC football landed a commitment from former UCF CB Chasen Johnson on Sunday, the program’s fourth transfer addition of the spring window. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Johnson, a rising soph, was initially the first commitment for USC’s 2025 transfer class back in December but ended up remaining with Knights. Johnson is the fourth spring transfer pick up alongside safety Kennedy Urlacher (ND), LB Ta’Mere Robinson (PSU) and WR Zacharyus Williams (UTAH). Johnson attracted other Power 4 programs like SMU, BAY, AUB and FSU back when he entered the portal in December of last year. He ended… Read more »
USC adds commitment from high-upside WR Luc Weaver Sherman Oaks (CA) Notre Dame wide receiver Luc Weaver became USC’s latest commitment (#27) as the Trojans built their lead as the nation’s No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class. Blair Angulo (USCFootball.com) — WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX? Only a couple weeks removed from an official visit to Utah, the impressive pass-catcher from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame decided he wanted to stay close to home. Weaver had also taken unofficial visits to UCLA and Washington for each team’s junior day events, and scheduled officials with the Huskies (May 30) and Minnesota (June 13), but those trips now appear off the… Read more »
This 2026 class just keeps growing and has talent as well. I wonder what Chad Bowden is selling them? Specifically with the position of Head Coach. These kids and their advisers must know what a lousy job LR has done with regards to game day management. Is he telling them either LR will get his act together in 25 or Jen Cohen and him will find a HC that is a winner? Either way by 26 USC will have a quality HC for them to win NC.
This is why the 2025 season can make or break all Bowdens hard work. Should Riley continue game mismanagement tendencies, have another poor record, lose against bottom dweller teams, or continue the impulse to pass when confused, we’ll see decommits in droves.
USC Snags Elite 5-10.5, 170 pound CB Elbert Hill Scott Schrader (WeAreSC.com) — USC currently has four of the top southern California DBs committed in RJ Sermons, Madden Riordan, Brandon Lockhart and Josh Holland. The Trojans’ 2026 DB class from SoCal could be off-the-charts good with potential addition of SoCal CBs Brandon Arrington, Jeron Jones and S Davon Benjamin. USC just added a commitment from Cleveland (OH) CB Elbert Hill on Friday morning, so the Trojans have commitments from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8 ranked corners in Hill, Sermons and Lockhart. Arrington is ranked the No. 1 CB, Benjamin the No. 5 CB and Jones is ranked… Read more »
USC just got a commitment from Elbert Hill, the # 1 player in the state of Ohio.According to Scott Wolf, this class is greatly over valued. To me that means that Bowden and Co. have struck Gold(again)
Kaboom!….again.
Good, thoughtful analysis illinoisusc.
What remains a mystery is whether Maiava is that QB?
Thanks!……as for Maiava…..that is probably the answer that along with how Riley does determines the difference between 10-2 and 7-5 or worse.
On 04/28/2025 Andy Staples at On3 released his top 25 college football teams for 2025. USC was not forecasted in his top 25 teams for 2025. Staples number one 2025 football team was Texas, followed by Notre Dame.
This Trojan wonders what impact a mediocre 2025 season might have on the 2026 class?
Most on this site know what I’am about to state and it is reasonable that other opinions will exist. Everybody wants to play for a winner (among a thousand other factors) however, a lot of the better players focus on who else is in the class because it’s about the future. Keeping a top notch QB or landing one makes a big difference to others. A powerful nose tackle/DL allows others to show their stuff. We have these folks either in the pipeline or landed. Development of the talent that exists is also big for folks that have NFL potential.… Read more »
Illinois I agree with all however, another 7 & 5 record will put doubts in the top athletes minds about the coaching staff’s ability to develop players. It also makes it easier for other programs to flip our top athletes saying is there any guarantee you will getting the best coaching? I feel this season must end with a better record than 2024 if we want to see the 2026 class retained without damaging losses. This season will be crucial for LR to show he is able to help win games rather than help lose them with his game management… Read more »
USC lands massive commitment from four-star OT Keenyi Pepe Erik McKinney (WeAreSC.com) — The #1 Trojan 2026 recruiting class is so impressive that it’s been difficult to single out the one biggest commitment to this point. But Thursday brought in a strong contender for that title as four-star OT Keenyi Pepe from the IMG Academy announced his USC commitment. The big OT is the nation’s No. 44 overall prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 5 OT and the No. 5 prospect in Florida (though Pepe grew up in Long Beach, CA, where his family still resides). He shows… Read more »
Boom!
This kid is the type of recruit that if he sticks and develops could anchor a line that could win a national championship in a couple years. This is a CPC level recruit.
The progress is continuing.
USC also doing well so far in the portal, per Rivals Adam Friedman (Rivals.com) — The only loss the Trojans suffered was edge defender Lorenzo Cowan, who ended up at UK. HC Lincoln Riley and company landed two defenders who have very high ceilings. The first was safety Kennedy Urlacher, the son of NFL Hall of Fame LB Brian Urlacher. The former ND DB made quick work of his transfer process before announcing for USC. A couple of days later, USC officially signed former PSU LB Ta’Mere Robinson, who was primed to play a lot this season for the Nittany Lions. The Trojans also added some help at receiver… Read more »
And those are nice players……but Pepe……everybody wanted him…..and I mean everybody.
5 Star OL Keeni Pepe just made it official. He wants to be a Trojan
Women of Troy add AUB forward Yakiya Milton from transfer portal The 6-foot-5 forward gives USC some much-needed length. Ahmad Akkaoui (USCFootball.com) — USC women’s basketball picked up its fourth commitment from the transfer portal Wednesday in Auburn soph forward Yakiya Milton. The 6-foot-5 forward from Jacksonville, Fla. spent two seasons with the Tigers. She played in 25 games as a freshman and 19 games in her second season. She scored 36 points in each of her first two seasons, shooting 38.9 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively, and averaging 2.0 rebounds and 2.3 rebounds, respectively, in her first two collegiate seasons. She improved her… Read more »
WR Roderick Tezeno commits to the Trojans, talking national championship USC’s #1 2026 recruiting class racked up yet another commitment Wednesday as Opelousas (La.) three-star WR Roderick Tezeno (6-2, 175) committed (No. 24) to the Trojans… Gerard Martinez (USCFootball.com) — Tezeno chose the Trojans over UK, TUL, MO, MISS ST, GT, GA and HOU. Tezeno — “I talk to everyone at USC. They’ve got big things going on, and they really want me to be a part of that. This is the class they want to have really set something up. This class is the one they want to get… Read more »
Lucky to be alive
Top USC 2025 basketball recruit Alijah Arenas has been released from the hospital, on road to full recovery after he completely wrecked his Cybertruck just before 5 am last Thursday in Reseda, family says. Drugs and alcohol were not suspected to be a factor in the crash.
latimes.com
Maybe no drugs or alcohol, but surely extremely high speed. My goodness that’s a mess.
I thought the Cybertruck was ugly, but this is a whole new level of ugly. I noticed a sign post in the picture. ( probably said “slow tree ahead”)
I’m glad the Trojan is okay, he just needs to slow his horse a bit
Looks like a residential neighborhood. Amazing recklessness, speed and danger in such an area. Nothing good about this except Arenas’ prospects for recovery.
OU fans and analysts were right Matt Zemek (Trojans Wire) — Payton Guthrie (of the Through the Keyhole Sooner football podcast) noted that while Bennie Wylie’s methods are certainly worth examining, the value and performance of a strength coach should be considered from another added vantage point. Guthrie said that strength coaching is about mindset and attitude as much as it is about teaching a certain technique in developing one’s body. Because strength coaches spend so much time with players — often more than the head coach — they are often the central voice of accountability for football players. Bennie Wylie, Guthrie… Read more »
Bennie Wylie was on shaky ground after his first year at USC. He had more than his share of detractors, many of whom were OU followers. Some would have simply called his performance “disappointing,” given how USC’s players responded to his strength and conditioning approach to player development. But he left OU to follow LR’s Cardinal and Gold footsteps. I think many thought Wylie was going to be replaced after year one or two on the job. His quicker, smaller approach was a bust. But he seemed to have survived last year’s worrisome 6-6 reg season, where USC caved so… Read more »
But I thought the reason Wylie went for the smaller quicker guys was because that’s what Grinch wanted. I do want to see LR upgrade his staff but on that rationale he probably should have gotten rid of Zach Hansen. With USC presently in the headlines, this would have been a perfect opportunity to bring in a great O-Line coach. Why did they hang onto him? Is it because him and his wife are so much a part of USC. Hey, this is a business. If a guy can’t get the job done then it’s time to bring in another… Read more »
Until we see what he can produce we can enjoy the great TE coach and recruiter that did come in.
So apparently, the Grinch left an even longer and darker shadow over USC football than we ever imagined. Not only did he orchestrate the complete ruination of the USC defense, he was also setting back the entire Trojan S/C program. Kind of like a double negative bonus. And I thought LR was supposedly in charge of all this stuff. Thank God for Chad Bowden.
I’ll agree that if he was not that good, they should have gotten rid of him a long time ago. I’m just saying that if the DC tells you he wants light and quick D-Linemen then I would think that Wylie would have to obey. So I would think it would be LR’s responsibility to say no to Grinch and he didn’t. That’s been established. But I fail to see how they blame Wylie for doing what he was told to do.
Nowadays, it’s common to hear the phrase, “Two things can be true at the same time.” I don’t really blame Wylie here. He was possibly just a soldier doing what he was told. We’ve all had bosses before. But that raises the issue of why, in the first place, would LR hire two very important assistants who may have totally disagreed on how USC should build its players. That would seem like a staff marriage that would butt heads a lot. We don’t really know how much input Wylie had, or if he had any original, promising plans of his… Read more »
If Wylie was not that good, it sounds like LR brought a few coaches over here that he should have left at Oklahoma.
Didn’t want any assistants to really challenge him. Understandable, but a good leader listens to input from everyone, even from those with contrary views.
USC let Bennie Wylie go. He has been with Riley for 4 years before they came to USC together. Perhaps there is a learning curve Riley is going through, especially with these experienced nfl coaches. It will be interesting to see who they bring in to run the conditioning program.
https://www.on3.com/teams/usc-trojans/news/usc-parts-ways-with-director-of-football-sports-performance-bennie-wylie/?
I think that was a mistake
We will see. I am sure they are going to bring in someone who is top of the line.
Maybe steal the Notre Dame conditioning coach.🤣
10 million to be learning how to hire college coaches. Good work if you can get it. SMH!
Some coaches never stop learning. Heck, look at Belichick, he is learning some new stuff right now.
I seriously doubt LR would enjoy being compared to downward-sliding, now clownish Bill Belichick these days. Even close friend Charles Barkley is worried about him.
Here he is, in full red-carpet mode, with the suddenly dominant and attention-seeking 24-year old gold digger Jordon Hudson, his new mate-in-charge. At least he’s letting her wear one of his Super Bowl rings. She let him keep four for the photo. 😂
No words for this. So obvious what’s going on here. Clownish was as good of a description as possible for what he’s become. Can’t imagine how this is playing with the 18-22 year old NC players.
Ya think Belichick might have some discipline/control problems with his Tar Heels? The locker room jokes should be wild, and it’s not even May yet.
Oh to be a fly on the locker room wall ….
Some coaches never stop learning….
Especially how the kids like their sex….🤣🤣
With GM Chad Bowden in charge and Jen Cohen’s committed checkbook, I’m sure USC will bring in a superior S/C guy. Can’t wait to see where all the connections were built, and who we rob for this new open position.
The USC football program is more intriguing than any program in the country right now. Pure rocket fuel, with dozens of questions still begging to be answered in terms of holes in the roster and LR’s offensive plans for next season, which are so crucial to LR’s hot seat existence with the fans at USC.
I’m more excited about this year than any since LR year 1, and now not just because of LR and CW. In fact, my excitement now is based on everything except LR. It’s the entire program trajectory.
Yes, Riley has a much better support system and coaches this coming year. Lynn and his staff is among the nations best.
Riley is a good OC.
It might come down to if Maiava has improved reading the defense and accuracy. If so it should be a good year.
I have read elsewhere, more than once, that Maiava had an absolutely horrible final spring practice/game. I don’t have any factual basis for that possibly unreliable info. Maybe it’s incorrect. Maybe it’s not relevant to what happens in Sept. But Bennie Wylie, our only S/C coach since LR arrived, was thereafter quickly and surprisingly fired, with LR remarking that he was trying to position USC to win NCs.
I suspect sometime during the season we could see one of the other QB’s going in. Maiava does not bring up a lot of confidence in the position, to me.
It would not be comforting if the reason there was a closed spring game/scrimmage was how bad the offense is with a not getting it Maiava, not to talented Huard and still too green Longstreet.
Husan Longstreet can catch too. Remember Leinart’s TD catch in the Rose Bowl…
I agree. QB play may make or break us this year.
That’s a good way to put it, VT.
Updated: Alijah Arenas expected to be released from the hospital with no major injuries Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — 2025 Five-star USC men’s basketball commit Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a serious car crash early Thursday morning and placed in a medically induced coma, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Arenas is progressing well and is expected to be released from the hospital with no major injuries, according to a statement made on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast Monday. “Happy to announce that Alijah is doing much better,” Josiah Johnson, one of the hosts of “Gil’s Arena,” said during… Read more »
Thankfully everyone got out okay. Every parent at one time or another thinks job one is getting your kid out of HS alive. HS boys should only drive a well built car with no power (Volvo with a 1.5 liter engine).
I drove an old plumbers truck– a 1955 Ford F-350 with dual wheels and tool lockers on each side on the truck bed. It was geared so low that if I went on the freeway and tried to go over 55 mph, it sounded like it would explode from high RPMs. Definitely NOT a chick magnet. I couldn’t get into much trouble with them wheels!
Now, if only you had a photo somewhere of you behind the wheel of that bad boy.
I do have one with my dad in it–the day he sold it. 2005! Only reason he let it go was that he could not get things like brake drums from Ford Obsolete any more…. That truck was used almost every week by generations of our family from 1964 until 2005!
If I can get a young person at my office to digitize the photo I will try to post it….
Any resemblance, aside from the color, of course?
Front end same style, but your purple bombshell (man, would I love that truck) has a lowered, street rod stance. The backend looks way different. Each side had three tool bins that opened to the street. So, the truck bed was narrow, but only 4’x 8’, and the tool bin assembly was as high as the bottom of the rear window on the truck cab. It really was a working plumber’s truck—it even had a pipe vise on a pole welded to the rear bumper. My grandpa (who was a service manager at Kott & Smollar Ford in Wilmington) bought… Read more »
I drove a ’70 VW, my first ride, my SR year. What a great car. No bells and whistles. Scratchy radio. Lame antennae. Just fun to shift, perfect for parking and the beach, quick to clean, easy on gas, little maintenance. I ran it hard for seven years back in the days when Earl Scheib would paint your entire car for 30 bucks. Hard to believe. I couldn’t get a minor scratch detailed out for that now.
I remember Earl Scheib!
One of the services released their top 25 post spring. We play 6 of the top 25. Oregon, Notre Dame, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Nebraska. We also play improved UCLA and Michigan State.
OK…..we’ll see. No place to hide……and we should be considered lucky….no Penn St or Ohio State.
I’m not looking at UCLA as anything close to “improved.” It’s an overused term nowadays, but I think the Bruins remain a “dumpster fire” program. The little gutties are a putrid 50-56 since they took the field in 2016. This new, improved, and much more aggressive and intelligent version of USC football under GM Chad Bowden’s leadership of the new Trojan front office is suddenly a likely playoff team. What an amazing rejuvenation. DC D’Anton Lynn now has some real talent to work with. IOWA, ILL, MICH ST and NEB are all capable teams that seem less likely to make… Read more »
I can’t tell you how many places I have read about how improved ucla will be this year. Well I don’t see it. They lost some elite players on defense, and are replacing it with 3 start talent. Nico has a million$ arm, and a 10 cent head. He might destroy their locker room.I think they struggle to get bowl eligible.
OK….LOL….let me stir the soup……after all…….it’s all for entertainment…..and it’s April with nothing else to do. I await your reply. You don’t have to be polite……go ahead and punch. I’am ready to hit the floor. Granted…..Some of this stuff is a preseason guess. I don’t see a strong pass rush.. Lucas stops the run but moves slowly. Silver had one sack in 30 games. Jarrett did not flash. Fountain is the only one that as an offensive coach I would worry about…..and he might have an RB watching him because the rest don’t have it. The rest have not demonstrated… Read more »
Awesome illinoisusc. I agree with a lot of what you say and thanks for the effort you put into your viewpoint. This should give us all a lot to think about. I like the way you break down all the different facets of what USC can expect to do in 2025. For my viewpoint to work, the sum of the parts for USC must be greater that what they would seem to add up to. I, for some reason, have the feeling that Lincoln Riley has finally felt enough heat to get smart and start adapting to his weaknesses as… Read more »
I with all my heart hope so……
Optimism in the spring has always seemed to be a USC football fan’s right of passage. I often fall victim.
Maybe it’s just a CFB thing, as all schools do whatever they can to drum up optimism and hope amongst their faithful followers. I think it’s all about hope, and all part of CFB’s overall charm, which we hope NIL and free agency won’t destroy.
And the last four months of USC football have objectively been too positive for me to ignore.
USC is on the way up no doubt about it, your optimism is warranted…….but I just thought I would provide an alternative view since the koolaid seemed to be getting a bit sugary…..and I would not mind hearing from others their view concerning some of the issues. We should have a good year. Whether we make the playoffs is yet to be determined but it is possible depending on whether a few key players develop.
As you know, as we enter fall the view should get clearer.
Thanks for understanding.
Ya, I totally empathize with your humorously astute assertion that “the Koolaid seemed to be getting a bit sugary“. As a USC fan, I have become very familiar with it, especially lately. I just hope “We Don’t Get Fooled Again…” But I’m willing to go down that road again because of all the new faces in USC’s front office and staff. It’s people who make the difference. And I do believe, right or wrong, that LR has been forced to confront some of his weaknesses if he expects to make it in L.A. with the Trojans. He didn’t have a… Read more »
Just caught this discussion and find it very interesting on many fronts. Both you and Ilinoisusc are hitting the positives and the concerns as we approach the 2025 season. Any head coach who would walk into the USC head coaching job right now, wouldn’t believe his eyes at the incredible program infrastructure Jen Cohen has created in the past couple of years. Of course question marks on our current roster abound, and rightfully so, but even that situation will correct in 2026 going forward. I guess the only area Jen can’t make a change, if she wanted to, is the… Read more »
PJ Fleck basically laid the hammer to LR. It was one of the all-time coaching “big reveals.”
Will LR be up to positively changing his approach to offense for the benefit of USC? I sure as damn well hope so. It’s time.
And if Jen ever has to hire a new football HC while she is at USC, I have confidence she would find a great candidate.
When did Linkin coach against P. J. Fleck? Was he the Minnesota coach last season?
Fleck’s been the coach at MINN since 2017.
Seems the biggest concern on offense right now isn’t so much the O-line as it is LRs playcalling and Maiava’s ball-handling discipline that keeps control of the ball on offense until we score or pin the opponent’s offense back deep on their side of the field, especially throughout the 4th quarter in games.
It’s obvious Jen C has not succumbed to Eisteinian insanity, jury is out for me on LR until I see change with my own eyes.
Quite a list. Defense is weak at pass rush, corners, and LB, but good at stopping the run. Offense is slightly better at OL, but lack depth, and weak at RB, receiving, QB, coaching. Sounds bleak. I agree with the weaknesses at LB, QB and coaching on offense. The rest I will take your word. Lets hope they pull it together. The schedule looks to me like 3 tough games and the rest winnable with last years talent and better coaching. 9-3 could happen as easily as 6-6.
GT….That last statement……yep. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Well-traveled Chad Baker-Mazara commits to USC men’s basketball The Trojan men now have 11 players for next season. Expect more to come. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — Former Auburn wing Chad Baker-Mazara committed to USC men’s basketball Monday. He gives the Trojans another talented and experienced contributor for next season. Baker-Mazara played the last two seasons at Auburn. He was a starter on the Tigers Final Four team this past season averaging 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Baker-Mazara shot 44.8 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three-point range. For his career, Baker-Mazara is an 87.8 percent free throw shooter. The left-handed Auburn… Read more »