USC’s countdown to kickoff keeps rolling, and with 14 days left before the Trojans open the 2026 season on August 29 against San Jose State at the Coliseum, the spotlight lands on one of the program’s most recognizable quarterbacks: Sam Darnold.
Darnold’s USC run stretched from 2015 through 2017, but his rise really began after a slow start to the 2016 season. He redshirted as a freshman in 2015, then spent the first three games of the next year backing up Max Browne. When USC stumbled to a 1-2 start, Clay Helton made the switch, and Darnold stepped into the lineup.
His first start came in a loss at Utah, and that was the last time USC dropped a game that season. The Trojans ripped off nine straight wins to close 2016, a surge capped by a wild 52-49 Rose Bowl win over Penn State. Darnold was huge in that game, throwing for 453 yards and five touchdowns.
The next season brought more history. Darnold guided USC to its first conference title in nine years, with the Trojans beating Stanford 31-28 in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
He also picked up first-team all-Pac-12 honors and became the first USC quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards in a season. The year ended on a sour note, though, with a 24-7 loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
After his redshirt sophomore season, Darnold declared for the 2018 NFL Draft, and the New York Jets took him third overall. His early pro years were rocky, and he seemed headed toward a backup role at best.
Then came the turnaround. In 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings - his fourth different team in seven years in the league - Darnold put together his best season yet, throwing for a career-high 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
After signing with the Seattle Seahawks last year, he followed it up with another strong campaign in 2025, posting 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. In February, Darnold became the first USC quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, leading Seattle to a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
In Other News...
USC Is Building Early Momentum With A Running Back To Watch
USCs 2028 recruiting board keeps getting a little more interesting, and one of the younger names to watch is Jaion Deuce Smith. The Santa Margarita High School running back picked up an offer from the Trojans on June 11, and now he is set for his first game day visit to the Coliseum on Aug. 29, giving the staff an early chance to make a stronger impression on a local prospect with ties to the program through family and the coaching staff.
Smith already has more trips lined up beyond Los Angeles, with planned visits to California, Wisconsin and Kansas, but USC will be trying to build on the momentum it gained by getting in early. The three-star back is ranked No. 74 in California, and while he is still at the beginning of his recruitment, the Trojans clearly view him as a name worth tracking as they continue work in the states 2028 class. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshmen Are Already Forcing Their Way Into Key Roles
Lincoln Riley made it clear this summer that USCs 2026 freshman class is not expected to spend the season watching and learning from the sideline. Several newcomers are already positioned to compete for starting jobs or meaningful snaps, a sign that the Trojans believe this group can help right away rather than waiting its turn. The names getting the most attention span both sides of the ball, from defensive linemen Tomuhini Topui and Wafle to safety Madden Riordan and a deep receiver group that includes Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mosley and Boobie Feaster.
There is also help coming in the secondary with cornerback Elbert Hill, giving USC a class with real breadth and not just one obvious strength. What makes it notable is how quickly these freshmen have gone from future promise to present tense conversation, with their backgrounds and physical tools making them part of the roster picture before the season has even fully taken shape. The bigger question now is not whether USC likes the talent, but how many of these first-year players can carve out roles once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]