USC fans won’t get Trojans football this weekend, but there’s still plenty of familiar red and gold to track across the NFL in Week 9.
The headliner might be Makai Lemon, who has started to find his footing in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform after a rookie season that didn’t open the way anyone expected. His production has climbed in recent weeks, and he’s now led the Eagles in receiving in back-to-back games. With Joe Milton stepping in and bringing a gunslinger style, this could be the spot where Lemon finally has the kind of breakout game that matches the buzz he carried out of USC.
There’s also a heavy Trojan presence in the Houston Texans’ matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. No NFL team, as the source puts it, represents USC more than Houston, and this one comes with several former Trojans in key roles.
Woody Marks is set to be the featured back again, and the matchup against a struggling Chargers defense gives him a real chance to post strong numbers. On the defensive side, Calen Bullock should have opportunities to jump a throw and come away with an interception, while Tuli Tuipulotu gets a favorable shot to work against the Chargers’ offensive line.
It’s the kind of game where Trojan players could be making plays all over the field.
The Seattle Seahawks’ meeting with the Arizona Cardinals brings another Trojans angle, even with Sam Darnold out because of injury. That puts more pressure on the Seattle defense, where Leonard Williams and Uchenna Nwosu are two names to watch closely. If the Seahawks are going to get the job done, those two could be central to it.
Sunday night has its own USC storyline with Caleb Williams and the Bears against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams has been one of the most electric players to watch this season, and this primetime stage gives him another chance to show why he’s being talked about as one of the league’s best and to move a little closer to his potential MVP campaign. He’s been the top former Trojan in the NFL, and this is another chance for him to put on a show.
The weekend wraps with Monday Night Football, where Carson Wentz is now the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback. That setup should help receiver Jordan Addison, who needs to get going. The Buffalo Bills’ secondary, paired with a more aggressive wide receiver, gives Addison a clear opportunity to break out.
In Other News...
USC Just Got Pulled Into A Fascinating Arch Manning Debate
Jayden Maiavas decision to return to USC and skip the 2026 NFL Draft gives the Trojans some needed clarity at quarterback, and it also keeps Lincoln Rileys offense in the conversation for another season. Maiava is likely playing his final games in cardinal and gold this year, which makes the long-term picture at the position worth watching even as USC focuses on the present.
That backdrop is part of why NFL Network draft scout Daniel Jeremiahs recent Arch Manning speculation landed with so much attention. Jeremiah floated USC as a possible landing spot if Manning ever entered the transfer portal, pointing to the Trojans offensive talent and Rileys history of developing quarterbacks. Nothing is official, and there is no indication Manning is on the move, but the mere idea of USC being mentioned in that kind of debate says plenty about the programs pull. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Lone 2028 QB Commit Is Giving Lincoln Riley More Momentum
Lincoln Riley has spent the fall building around one quarterback target in the 2028 class, and Trey Wright has only strengthened that push. The Texas native has climbed to four-star status after a junior season that included 58 total touchdowns and a perfect 10-0 record for his high school team, and he has already made multiple trips to campus this fall.
For USC, the appeal goes beyond the rankings bump. Wright remains the lone quarterback commit in the 2028 class, which gives his recruitment an outsized importance as Riley continues to shape the future of the room. The visits, the production and the early commitment all point in the same direction, even if there is still plenty of time left for the story to evolve. [Read more 🡒]
USC Volleyball Finally Got The Reset Trojans Fans Needed
USC womens volleyball finally got the kind of clean reset it had been looking for, rolling past Rutgers in straight sets to snap a four-match losing streak. The Trojans looked sharper in all the areas that had been nagging them during the skid, hitting .351 as a team with 42 kills and 12 blocks while keeping Rutgers to a .133 hitting mark.
Mia Tvrdy, London Wijay and Adonia Faumuina were central to the response, giving USC the steadier, more complete performance it needed after a rough stretch. It was the sort of win that does more than just change the record for a night - it gives a team a chance to breathe, regroup and start building again with a little more confidence. [Read more 🡒]