USC heads toward the 2026 season with real buzz, but there’s still plenty to sort out before the Trojans get to Week 1. Jayden Maiava is back at quarterback and is viewed as one of the better signal callers in the country, while Lincoln Riley has a new defensive coordinator in Gary Patterson. That combination has USC sitting in the conversation for a Big Ten title at +1300 and a College Football Playoff spot at +250, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Even with that optimism, the Trojans have some important decisions to make, starting with the passing game. The offense has time to test different receiver combinations before Big Ten play ramps up, but the clock is already ticking toward the Oregon game on Sept.
- The biggest question is simple: who steps up around Maiava?
Tanook Hines looks like the leader of the receiver room, and NC State transfer Terrell Anderson adds another experienced option. After that, USC has a mix of young talent and returning pieces that could all push for snaps. Freshmen Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley and Ethan “Boobie” Feaster are all names to watch, while Corey Simms and Zacharyus Williams should get more chances now that Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are in the NFL.
The tight end room could also become part of the answer. Five-star freshman Mark Bowman is expected to contribute early, and USC’s best move may be to give Maiava as much time as possible to build chemistry with his new targets before conference play starts.
Defensively, the secondary is loaded enough to create a different kind of problem: too many options. Transfers Jontez Williams and Carrington Pierce are in the mix for playing time, and returning defensive backs Marcelles Williams and Chasen Johnson are also part of the battle. Younger players like Elbert Hill and RJ Sermons could force their way into the rotation, too.
Marcelles Williams brings the most experience in the group and already knows cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed well, but Patterson’s view of the secondary will shape how the snaps get distributed. Redshirt freshman cornerback Alex Graham is another name to keep in mind after his USC debut was delayed by injury, even though he started two games in his freshman season.
The backfield has its own uncertainty, and it centers on Waymond Jordan. King Miller broke out in 2025 after taking advantage of an opportunity created in part by Jordan’s season-ending injury, but Jordan remains a key piece of USC’s ground game. Riley said Jordan underwent a clean up procedure on the ankle he injured during the 2025 season, and he was reportedly shut down for part of spring camp.
USC does have depth behind him with Miller, Riley Wormley, and freshmen Shahn Alston and Deshonne Redeaux. Still, Jordan is the one who can most change the shape of the run game if he’s healthy and ready to roll.
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Top California Safety Opens Up On Huge USC Recruiting Win
USCs push to rebuild its secondary got another boost with the commitment of four-star safety Gavin Williams, one of the top prospects in California and a key addition to a class the Trojans have spent real time and energy shaping. Williams gives Lincoln Rileys staff another highly regarded defensive back to sell alongside the other pieces already in place, a sign that USC is trying to turn recruiting momentum into long-term depth on the back end.
Williams decision also fits the broader message USC has been working to send on the trail: that staying home can still mean stepping into something new. He said he sees the culture changing around the program and believes the future is bright, and the Trojans backed up their interest with a memorable early-May visit to his schools College Showcase. With Williams now aboard, USC is still looking to keep stacking defensive backs in future classes, and there is already another familiar name in the mix as the staff continues to build around this group. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Got Left Out Of The Big Ten Elite Again
USCs place in the Big Ten conversation still feels a little jarring for anyone who remembers when the Trojans were the sports standard-bearer. Even with a nine-win 2025 season and a highly ranked signing class on the way, USA TODAY Sports slotted them seventh among the conferences football programs entering 2026, a reminder that reputation alone does not buy a spot near the top in this league.
The bigger issue for USC is not just catching Michigan, Penn State or Oregon in the present tense, but proving it belongs in the same tier as the conferences elite again. Even if the Trojans were bumped ahead of Iowa, they would still be looking up at Ohio State, Indiana and the rest of the group that has separated itself, which leaves USC with plenty of momentum but still an obvious next step to take. [Read more 🡒]
Why Jide Abasiri Suddenly Feels Crucial To USC's Defensive Fix
USC has spent much of the past decade trying to find a defensive front that can hold up like a championship unit, and that search has made every reliable piece on the line feel more valuable than usual. Jide Abasiri quietly became one of those pieces in 2025, starting nine games and giving the Trojans steady production with 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks. For a defense still trying to establish an identity up front, that kind of consistency matters.
Now the pressure shifts. With key linemen moving on, Abasiri is positioned to become a central figure in the room in 2026, which puts a spotlight on more than just his play. USC has already seen enough to know he can handle the physical part of the job, but the next step is whether he can help anchor a group that needs direction as much as disruption. [Read more 🡒]