USC is rolling out the red carpet for a deep recruiting crowd on Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Trojans host No. 2 Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It’s a big-stage visit list for a program trying to close strong, with coach Lincoln Riley nearing the end of his tenure and the Trojans trying to turn one more home date into a lasting recruiting impression.
The 2027 class is where the visitor list starts to get especially loaded. Ten of USC’s 14 commits are expected to be in the building, including five-star athlete Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, four-star receiver Quentin Hale, four-star cornerback Danny Lang, four-star safety Gavin Williams, receiver Roye Oliver, offensive tackle Drew Fielder and defensive lineman Tolo Tuihalamaka.
Avon Old Farms (Conn.) 2027 three-star linebacker commit Dylan Wafle is also headed to Southern California for the first time this fall. Wafle, the younger brother of star freshman defensive end Luke Wafle, will get his first look at USC in person this weekend.
The 2028 group is equally packed with names to watch. Four-star quarterback commit Trey Wright is making a return trip and figures to spend part of the weekend working on other elite prospects. Four-star 2028 cornerback Ca'ron "Prime" Williams is another familiar face, and three-star receiver Grant Mosley - the younger brother of star freshman receiver Trent Mosley - is on the list as well.
USC will also host a wave of underclassmen from 2029 and 2030, including 2029 defensive lineman Kingston Jimmerson and 2030 defensive end KJ Herndon, receiver Kiyan Callis and athlete Jayden Jack.
The local pipeline figures to be on display again, too. Santa Margarita (Calif.) three-star defensive lineman and 2027 commit Isaia Vandermade is bringing several teammates from the Trinity League. Lang will have a group of Mater Dei (Calif.) teammates alongside him, including 2028 four-star safety Ace Leutele, four-star cornerback Troy Bishop and 2029 running back Asir Nembhard.
St. John Bosco (Calif.) three-star linebacker and 2027 commit Josiah Poyer is also coming with teammates, including 2028 four-star IOL Elisha Mueller and 2029 receiver Kuika Moaalii and safety Kingston Fatu. JSerra (Calif.) four-star offensive tackle Lincoln Fa'alafi remains one of the top 2028 targets on USC’s board.
Among the bigger names in the 2028 class, Palos Verdes (Calif.) four-star safety Jalen Flowers stands out. He’s a local two-way star and a top 100 recruit, and one of the premier athletes on the West Coast in any class.
The Trojans are also getting another look at Orem (Utah) 2028 four-star defensive end Major Stokes, who drew rave reviews from the staff when he visited for the invite-only camp over the summer. His teammate, five-star and No. 1 rated offensive tackle Maui Tonata, is making the trip too.
Other 2028 visitors include Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) four-star receiver Jayce Halasz, West (Utah) four-star IOL Samiu Tauikivea and three-star defensive lineman Takeshi Savery.
USC’s board also includes a trio of legacies from California in the 2028 class: Simi Valley three-star cornerback Micah Hannah, Orange Lutheran (Calif.) four-star safety Chauncey Washington II and Garces Memorial (Calif.) four-star safety Jackson Parker. Their fathers all played at USC.
Two more defensive backs to track are Serra (Calif.) four-star cornerback Derrick Coleman and Salesian (Calif.) three-star cornerback Jordan Slye.
The Trojans have also made clear that Victor Valley (Calif.) 2029 running back Makai Buchanan is a priority. He’ll be joined by teammate Ja'aron Thorpe, a 2030 receiver who already picked up an offer in the eighth grade. Sierra Canyon (Calif.) 2029 receiver Lance Brown, who received an offer from USC this week, is expected as well, along with Crespi (Calif.) safety Antonio Glasby and Liberty (Calif.) edge Pierce Buckey.
Vista Murrieta (Calif.) 2030 receiver Teagen People is another name on the guest list, and his recruitment has already moved quickly as he approaches double-digit offers.
In Other News...
Quarterback Who Just Burned USC Could Shake Up The Big Ten Again
The Big Ten slate in Week 9 is loaded with quarterbacks coming off eye-catching showings, and USC fans know firsthand how quickly one hot hand can tilt a conference race. Among the names drawing attention are Colton Joseph of Wisconsin, Michael Clayton of Illinois, Ty Dieffenbach of UCLA, Aidan Chiles of Northwestern and Antwan Raymond of Rutgers, a group that has been singled out for the kind of recent play that can change how a matchup looks before kickoff.
For USC, the takeaway is less about any single opponent and more about the wider league picture, where one strong quarterback performance can ripple into the standings and the playoff conversation. The Trojans already saw how disruptive an efficient passing game can be, and if one of these Big Ten passers keeps rolling, the conference could get reshaped again before the week is over. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Became Texas Biggest Quarterback Watch
Arch Mannings name is already doing the rounds far beyond Austin, and the speculation is only going to grow as the quarterback picture at Texas keeps drawing attention. For USC fans, the appeal is obvious enough: the Trojans have already spent recent years trying to stay relevant in the national quarterback conversation, and any discussion of Manning inevitably pulls them into the mix alongside a handful of other heavyweight programs.
USC is one of the schools mentioned by analysts and insiders as a possible fit if Manning ever does explore a transfer path for the 2027 season, with family history, coaching ties and roster need all surfacing in the conversation. For now, though, it remains exactly that, conversation. Manning has not said anything publicly to suggest he is looking elsewhere, which leaves the sport in its favorite holding pattern - everyone watching, nobody quite sure what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Rece Davis Just Added More Pressure On USC Before Ohio State
USC heads into its matchup with Ohio State already trying to steady itself after a low-scoring loss at Wisconsin knocked the Trojans out of the AP Top 25, and now the national conversation has only turned up the heat. ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis picked the Buckeyes to win the game, adding another layer of outside doubt to a Trojans team that needs a strong response after an uneven stretch.
The twist is that Ohio State is dealing with its own quarterback uncertainty, with Julian Sayin injured and Ryan Day still deciding between Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. Even so, Davis still leaned toward the Buckeyes, which only sharpens the spotlight on USC as it tries to prove it can handle a heavyweight opponent and quiet the questions that have followed last weeks setback. [Read more 🡒]