A new NCAA calendar proposal could reshape how USC handles almost every part of its offseason, from portal work to the timing of spring practices and even when the season is allowed to begin.
The plan, revealed Aug. 28, is set for a final vote between Oct. 6-7, and it would tighten the college football schedule in a few major ways for coach Lincoln Riley, general manager Chad Bowden and the rest of the Trojans.
The biggest change centers on the transfer portal. It would still open in January, but the window would shrink to 10 days and move earlier in the month. The proposal would also eliminate the current 15-day portal window.
That matters for USC because the program has leaned heavily into portal talent. The Trojans’ last Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Caleb Williams, arrived through the portal, and current starter Jayden Maiava also transferred in from UNLV.
USC added defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren from Michigan State before the 2026 season as well. If this proposal passes, Bowden and the staff would have less than two weeks to identify and move on portal targets.
The calendar shift would also change how USC handles spring work. The NCAA proposal replaces the current out-of-season rules for spring and summer activities with a model that allows two out-of-season practice periods. USC and every other program would still be limited to 21 total practices, but those sessions could be squeezed into a different timeline than the one teams use now.
For the Trojans, that could mean spring ball starts much earlier than usual. USC has typically held spring practices in April, with the spring showcase landing closer to early May. Under the new setup, teams could be pushed toward early March or even the end of February.
There’s also a broader schedule change at play. Labor Day weekend would no longer be the traditional opening week for college football. Week 0 games already take place the week before the holiday, including USC’s scheduled matchup with San José State on Aug. 29 of the 2026 season, but the proposal could put every program, including power conference teams, on the field in late August.
The timing of all this arrives as USC and other programs also navigate another eligibility issue involving undrafted NFL rookies seeking a fifth season after a judge’s order in Louisiana. But USC’s conference has joined others in prohibiting past NFL tryout players from returning to school.
In Other News...
USC Game Day Just Made A Coliseum Change Fans Will Notice
USC is making a noticeable change to its game-day presentation for the 2026 football season, bringing KTLA reporter Hayley Elwood on board as the new in-stadium host at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. She steps into a role long associated with DJ Mal-Ski, who has been a familiar presence around USC home dates and other university venues, helping set the tone for the crowd as fans filter into the building and settle in for kickoff.
The move comes as USC also rolls out new concessions and themed promotions for home games, another sign that the program is continuing to tweak the Coliseum experience beyond what happens on the field. Mal-Ski is expected to remain involved with the venue by handling the music, so while one part of the presentation is changing hands, another piece of the soundtrack that regulars have come to know is staying in place. [Read more 🡒]
USC Depth Chart Just Put Pressure On Two Young Trojans
USCs first depth chart for 2026 offered an early glimpse at how the staff is sorting through its young talent, and it put immediate focus on a pair of players who need to turn recruiting hype and offseason momentum into real roles. True freshman Trent Mosely opened as the No. 2 receiver, with redshirt-sophomore Zacharyus Williams right behind him after a turbulent start to his USC tenure that included a transfer from Utah in 2025 and an injury-shortened season.
The same theme showed up on the defensive side, where highly regarded defensive back RJ Sermons was listed third on the chart after not seeing the field in his freshman year. For both Williams and Sermons, the path to meaningful snaps may come from carving out something more specific than a standard backup job, and special teams could wind up being the quickest way to stay in the mix as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
USCs First Depth Chart Leaves Real Week 1 Doubts
USCs first official depth chart of the season arrived just before the opener against San Jos State, and it offered a useful snapshot of where the roster stands after camp. It also underscored how much of this team is still in flux, with several players drawing attention for the way theyve progressed, including linebacker Jadyn Walker, defensive lineman Deven Bryant and offensive linemen Keenyi Pepe and Vlad Dyakonov.
The bigger takeaway, though, is that the Trojans are still sorting through some real uncertainty heading into Week 1. There are players working back toward a return, including Jahkeem Stewart, and a few others remain game-time decisions, leaving the staff with a few spots that may not settle until much closer to kickoff. For a team trying to open the year with some early stability, the first depth chart feels less like a final answer than a reminder of how much is still to be decided. [Read more 🡒]