With USC set for a big conference test against Washington on Saturday, the Trojans’ footprint in the NFL is already showing up on Sundays. The program’s direction under Lincoln Riley may be drawing heat, but the list of former Trojans producing in the league keeps growing.
At quarterback, both USC alums in the NFL have been dealing with injuries early in the season. Seattle’s Sam Darnold missed time with a glute injury suffered in the opener, then returned and threw for 379 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in a loss to the Washington Commanders. Even with the defeat, getting Darnold back off the injury report is a lift for the Seahawks as they try to defend their Super Bowl title.
Chicago’s Caleb Williams is also working through an injury, with a hamstring issue expected to keep him out for three to four weeks.
In Detroit, Amon-Ra St. Brown keeps stacking up production and reinforcing his status as one of the NFL’s steadiest weapons.
He leads the Lions with 23 catches, 228 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, putting him No. 15, No. 4 and No. 2 in the league in those categories.
Minnesota’s Jordan Addison has also been given a chance to shine while Justin Jefferson has been sidelined. Jefferson missed time in the Vikings’ win over Tampa Bay, and Addison responded with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. With that kind of opening, the question now is whether he can keep it going against the Miami Dolphins.
Atlanta has gotten a boost from another former Trojan receiver, Drake London. A change at quarterback appears to have helped his outlook, and in the first game of the 2026 season for Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., London hauled in nine passes for 194 yards. He now sits No. 7 in the NFL with 274 receiving yards, making him the most productive USC receiver so far in 2026.
Houston has also leaned on several former Trojans on defense. Safety Calen Bullock has been especially important, tying Houston star with 10 solo tackles through three games, which ranks fourth on the team. Kamari Ramsey and Jaylin Smith have also been part of a Texans defense trying to help the team get its first win of the season.
On offense, Texans running back Woody Marks has started to find a place behind David Montgomery. Through 22 carries, he has 62 yards and one touchdown.
In Other News...
Oregon Just Added To The Pressure Crushing Lincoln Riley And USC
The loss to Oregon only sharpened the scrutiny around USCs place in the Big Ten conversation, and Matt Leinart did not soften his assessment of where the program stands. The former Trojans quarterback said the team looks stuck in mud despite having talent, a blunt read that lands at a time when USC is still trying to convince people it belongs among the sports serious contenders.
Leinarts bigger point was about relevance, not just one setback. He said USC has to beat ranked opponents to change the narrative, and he pointed to the growing frustration among some fans and alumni who have grown weary of the direction under Lincoln Riley. He also contrasted the Trojans struggles with the recent rise of programs like Indiana and UCLA, a reminder that the standard around USC keeps getting raised by teams that were not long ago chasing the same spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces A Defensive Concern It Can't Afford Against Washington
USC heads into Saturdays matchup with Washington trying to steady itself after the loss to Oregon, and the timing makes the defensive conversation even louder. The No. 18 Trojans return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on NBC, with another Pac-12 opponent waiting and another chance to show that the issues under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson are being addressed rather than exposed.
The challenge is a real one because Washington brings an offense worth worrying about, led by quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and capable of forcing a defense to chase the game. With player availability still part of the pregame picture, USCs margin for error feels thin, and the Trojans are trying to avoid letting one rough performance turn into a larger pattern at the wrong point in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces One Brutal Big Ten Road Test Fans Will Circle
Penn States trip to Beaver Stadium will be one of the biggest early markers on USCs 2026 Big Ten schedule, with the Trojans set for a Saturday night kickoff on Oct. 10. The atmosphere should match the occasion, too, as the game is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET in one of the conferences toughest road environments.
Interest around the matchup is already building, with tickets on StubHub listed between $200 and $500. The game sits within a full 2026 slate for both programs, but this one stands out as the kind of road test USC fans are going to have circled well before October arrives. [Read more 🡒]