USC’s Wednesday practice offered a pretty clear preview of how the Trojans are approaching Saturday’s season opener against San Jose State inside the Coliseum: lean on the veterans, keep the young talent close, and trust that the team’s maturity is showing at the right time.
After the workout at Bloom Center, defensive players Alex VanSumeren, Jide Abasiri, Chasen Johnson and Jontez Williams spoke about where the group stands with kickoff drawing near. The message that came through was simple enough - USC has plenty of younger players who are ready to contribute, but the tone of the room is being set by experienced guys.
That veteran presence showed up in the way Johnson talked about Williams, his fellow Floridian and fellow cornerback. Johnson pointed to an interception Williams made in practice as the defensive play of the week, saying it captured exactly what makes him such a strong defender. Williams, a former Iowa State transfer, has already made an impression on the Trojans before taking the field for his first game in a USC uniform.
Williams, listed at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, is in his fifth year as a senior, and he described the arc of his own development. Early in his career, he said, he was a player who relied on instinct. Over time, he learned to use film to study quarterback tendencies and turn that preparation into a weapon.
That kind of perspective matters for a roster that is still bringing along a lot of young players. Williams’ words and example could carry real weight in a group that is still growing, even as it prepares for the opener.
Williams also talked about making his team debut on Saturday, while Abasiri reflected on both his own growth as a player and the stronger connection the team has built along the way.
In Other News...
USC Fans Are Getting A Very Different Coliseum Experience In 2026
USC spent the offseason listening closely to its crowd, gathering fan feedback after the 2025 season with an eye toward making Saturdays at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum feel fresher in 2026. The result is a noticeable push to upgrade the entire game day atmosphere, from a new pregame fireworks show to a more active in-stadium host and a family ticket package designed to make coming to games a little easier and a little more appealing.
There will also be a more ambitious food-and-fun element around the venue, including new concession items and a rotating "Dog of the Game" promotion, plus additional game day experiences whose proceeds will support the Trojan Athletic Fund. USC is also planning select home-game tributes to championship-winning Trojan teams and student-athletes, a reminder that the Coliseum experience is being built not just around entertainment, but around the program's history and the people who helped shape it. [Read more 🡒]
USCs New Defensive Duo Faces Immediate Pressure To Deliver
Gary Patterson and Paul Gonzales have picked up where they left off at TCU, only this time the reunion is unfolding at USC as the Trojans get ready for their season opener against San Jose State. Patterson is running the defense, Gonzales is helping shape the safeties and pass game, and the early sense around the program is that the familiarity between the two coaches is already paying off in how smoothly the unit is being put together.
Jontez Williams and Chasen Johnson have both pointed to that chemistry and leadership as reasons for confidence heading into the opener, and the pressure is immediate because USC does not have much time to wait for the defense to show it can hold up. The schedule offers a bigger measuring stick soon enough, too, with the Oct. 10 road trip to Penn State set for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on NBC and Peacock, a game that will say a lot about how far this new-look defensive setup has come. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Backfield Could Change Everything If This Duo Delivers
USC heads into its season opener with a backfield setup that could quickly become one of the most important parts of the offense. Fifth-year senior Waymond Jordan is back after an ankle injury, while third-year sophomore King Miller enters the year as the teams leading rusher from last season and has spent the offseason adding about 15 pounds to his frame. With both expected to be the primary options, the Trojans suddenly have a pair that looks capable of carrying a heavy load.
Lincoln Riley has already gone as far as to suggest this could be the best running back duo of his coaching career, which says plenty about the confidence inside the program. For USC, the intrigue is not just about depth or balance, but about whether Jordans return and Millers growth can give the Trojans a more reliable ground game right away, and maybe change the shape of the offense in the process. [Read more 🡒]