Why Lincoln Riley’s Fifth Year at USC Feels Different - And Why It Might Finally Be Playoff Time
The College Football Playoff has remained just out of reach for USC since Lincoln Riley took over, but heading into his fifth season, there’s a different energy brewing in Los Angeles. With quarterback Jayden Maiava returning and a transfer class that’s already drawing buzz, there’s a growing belief that 2026 could finally be the year the Trojans break through.
And that belief isn’t just coming from inside the building. National analysts are starting to take notice, too. USC landed at No. 11 in a recent early top-25 ranking, with the optimism centered around a few key ingredients: a veteran quarterback, a reloaded roster, and a defense that could finally be ready to hold its own.
The Maiava Factor
Jayden Maiava’s return for his senior season gives USC something it hasn’t always had in recent years - stability at the quarterback position. The former transfer showed flashes last season, and with another offseason in Riley’s system, there’s reason to believe he’s ready to take the next step.
He won’t have to do it alone, either. The 2026 recruiting class and transfer portal additions have brought in plug-and-play talent, especially at the skill positions.
If Riley’s offense gets humming early - and we’ve seen what it looks like when it does - USC could be a handful for anyone, even in a newly loaded Big Ten.
Defense Under New Leadership
Of course, the offense has rarely been the issue in Riley’s tenure. The defense, however, has been another story.
Enter Gary Patterson. The longtime TCU head coach is now tasked with bringing some toughness and consistency to a unit that’s struggled to keep pace with the offense.
If Patterson can stabilize things on that side of the ball - even just enough - it could be the missing piece that finally gets USC over the hump.
Navigating the Big Ten Gauntlet
The Trojans won’t have the luxury of easing into things. Their Big Ten slate is no joke. Five of their opponents are ranked in the top 25 of early projections, including a heavyweight showdown with Oregon on September 26 - a game that could carry serious playoff and conference title implications.
That matchup with the Ducks is already circled in red. It’s a rematch with plenty of storylines: USC looking to prove it belongs in the Big Ten’s upper tier, Oregon aiming to reassert itself after some tough losses last season, and two head coaches - Lincoln Riley and Dan Lanning - under pressure to deliver in a new-look conference.
Beyond Oregon, the Trojans will have to survive trips to Penn State and Ohio State, plus a tricky mid-November game against Indiana. There’s little margin for error in this conference, and USC’s path to the CFP will be anything but smooth.
Nonconference Tune-Ups Before the Storm
Before the Big Ten grind begins, USC will open its season with nonconference matchups against Fresno State and Louisiana. Those games will offer a chance to fine-tune things - and ideally, get the offense firing on all cylinders - before the gauntlet begins with Rutgers on September 19.
Riley’s Mindset: Edge, Adaptability, and Growth
Riley knows what’s at stake. Speaking recently, he emphasized the importance of maintaining an edge and continuing to grow as a program.
Last season, he pointed out, USC found ways to win in all kinds of environments and conditions. That adaptability could be crucial in a Big Ten that offers everything from snow games in Happy Valley to high-stakes showdowns in the Coliseum.
“I think you’re always out for something to prove,” Riley said. “You have to have that edge and that competitive juice about you and about a program.”
That edge might be the difference this season. With a seasoned quarterback, a defense under new leadership, and a roster that’s deeper than it’s been in years, USC enters 2026 with both the talent and the urgency to make a serious run.
The College Football Playoff has been the goal since Riley arrived. Now, it finally feels like the pieces are in place. The question isn’t whether USC has the potential - it’s whether they can put it all together when it matters most.