Big Ten media days are already putting the College Football Playoff debate front and center, and Lincoln Riley made it clear where he stands: he wants the bracket to grow to 24 teams.
That push would be a major shift from the current 12-team format, and it’s the kind of change that would open the door wider for programs that often end up on the wrong side of the cut line. USC is one of the teams that immediately comes to mind.
College football reporter Stewart Mandel shared Riley’s view in a recent tweet, and the USC coach didn’t sound like someone trying to split the room. He sounded like a coach who knows exactly where the momentum is headed.
"When you get a room of 50 coaches or whatever we have in this conference together, it’s hard to get everybody to be unanimous on something. This is something where our room has been unanimous."
Riley is far from alone in backing more playoff access, and the Trojans would have plenty to gain if the field expands again. USC was in the AP top 25 multiple times last season, and under a 24-team setup, its path would look a lot friendlier.
With USC’s strength of schedule and the talent on the roster, the Trojans could be in position to reach the postseason even with three losses instead of getting left out. That’s the kind of break an expanded playoff is designed to create, and it’s easy to see why USC would be one of the programs best positioned to benefit.
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Lincoln Riley Just Sent A Major Message About Jayden Maiava
At Big Ten media days, Lincoln Riley made it clear that Jayden Maiava has earned plenty of trust heading into the new season. The USC coach praised the quarterbacks growth since taking over last year, pointing to the kind of steady improvement that can matter just as much as raw talent when a program is trying to settle in at the position.
Maiava was USCs starter last season and helped guide an offense that functioned effectively, which gives Rileys confidence some real backing. The bigger takeaway for the Trojans is that the quarterback conversation already feels far more settled than it did a year ago, with Maiava positioned to open 2026 carrying the full support of the staff behind him. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshmen Are Already Making Fall Camp Defense Decisions Tougher
USCs young defensive class has already turned spring work into a real fall-camp subplot, with several freshmen making enough of an impression to force the staff to think beyond simple redshirt plans. The group includes linebacker Talanoa Ili, cornerback Elbert Hill, safety Madden Riordan and defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui, all of whom have shown traits that fit what the Trojans want on that side of the ball.
Ili has drawn attention as a linebacker prospect with rare upside, Hill has looked unusually polished in coverage since arriving in January, Riordan has flashed the kind of ball skills that created turnovers in high school, and Topui brings the size and burst that can translate to early snaps up front. None of that guarantees a clean path to playing time, but it does mean USCs coaches are heading into camp with more options than they probably expected, and a few more decisions to make once the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
USCs New Roster Just Raised Bigger Questions About This Team
USC is only into fall camp, but the first updated roster already tells a story about how much the program has changed since spring. The Trojans have been busy reshaping the board in the offseason, adding 24 players overall, mostly walk-ons, while also bringing in a handful of more notable newcomers through signings and transfers. For a team opening against San Jose State, those kinds of roster updates are more than housekeeping. They are a snapshot of where the staff thinks it has depth, where it needs help, and which bodies are expected to carry more of the load this fall.
The physical changes are just as revealing. Some players have clearly been asked to carry different roles, from offensive linemen and tight ends to defensive linemen and corners, and the new measurements suggest USC is still sorting out how this roster wants to look in August. The most interesting part is not just who arrived, but how many players seem to have changed in ways that could affect the two-deep before the opener even gets here. [Read more 🡒]