The spotlight at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is already aimed squarely at No. 20 Oregon and No. 12 USC, but the Trojans may have one more surprise waiting before kickoff: the tunnel captain.
USC usually reveals that honor a few days ahead of time. This week, though, the school has kept things quiet, and that silence has only fueled speculation around who will lead the 2026 Trojans onto the field for a heated rivalry game against the Ducks.
The name drawing the loudest buzz is Reggie Bush. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion from USC’s early-2000s championship run has become the popular online pick, even though he has never served as tunnel captain since his playing career ended.
Bush’s path back into that role has not been simple. He had to mend fences with USC after being forced to return his Heisman Trophy following an NCAA investigation tied to improper benefits, with the school also vacating wins during that period. That ban was lifted in 2020, before the NIL era began, and Bush’s Heisman was even placed on one of the tables during USC’s August media day ahead of the 2026 season.
That does not mean the door is completely open, though. A newer lawsuit involving Bush, the NCAA, and USC could still complicate matters. Even so, if Bush is the one holding the sword and leading the Trojans out, the sold-out crowd should deliver a massive roar.
Pete Carroll is another name getting traction. The two-time national title winner has recently returned to campus as an adjunct professor for USC Marshall School of Business, taking on a teaching role during the spring semester.
Carroll, 75, is no longer coaching after his one season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025 ended at 3-14. He also won one Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2013 season, the franchise’s first Vince Lombardi Trophy.
His USC history against Oregon was a little rockier. Carroll went 4-3 against the Ducks during his run with the Trojans, and Oregon’s 47-20 win in 2009 was the last time he faced them before heading back to the NFL.
Still, with more time on his hands, Carroll is a real possibility - and if he and Bush were to walk out together, USC fans would absolutely lose it.
Matt Leinart has also been floated, but that feels like a long shot. He is in Columbus for Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff coverage ahead of Illinois at Ohio State, and he has already served as tunnel captain before.
USC often gives the job to a legendary figure who has never led the team out previously, which also knocks out former wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Marqise Lee, both of whom served as honorary captains this season. For now, Bush and Carroll remain the names to watch.
In Other News...
USC Stars In The NFL Are Breaking Out And Breaking Down
Drake London gave USC fans a reminder of what elite receiver play can look like on a big stage Thursday night, hauling in nine passes for 194 yards against Green Bay. The former Trojans standout has continued to grow into a featured role with the Atlanta Falcons, and nights like this only deepen the sense that USCs receiver pipeline is producing players who can make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Elsewhere, the picture around USC alums is a little less celebratory. Baltimore Ravens rookie JaKobi Lane is on injured reserve after breaking his wrist in his NFL debut, while Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is working through a minor hamstring injury that could sideline him on a week-to-week basis. For a program that prides itself on sending stars to Sundays, the early-season snapshot is a mix of breakout production and the kind of health issues that can interrupt even the most promising start. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Rutgers Rotation Revealed A Troubling Depth Issue
USCs trip to Rutgers offered a clear look at how thin the roster has become in spots. The Trojans leaned on a season-low 60 players, with a wide spread in usage that reflected how much the staff had to press the available group into service. Desman Stephens II and Prophet Brown each logged 74 snaps, while Josiah Jefferson and Marquis Gallegos saw just one apiece in a game where the rotation was anything but normal.
The numbers also underscored how many bodies USC was already missing. Fourteen players were out because of injuries or were not dressed, and three more were injured and did not finish the game, leaving no one to return from injury or make a season debut. On the flip side, 13 players hit or matched career highs in total snap counts, a reminder that the Trojans are asking a lot from the same core as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
USCs First Real Test Could Expose A Growing Trojans Problem
Week 3 of the 2026 college football season turned into another reminder that the AP top 25 can get shaken up fast, with five ranked teams going down, including Texas A&M and Virginia. While Texas stayed unbeaten at No. 1 and gets ready for a test against Tennessee, the rest of the sport is already moving toward matchups that can redraw the picture in a hurry, and USC is right in that mix with Oregon coming to town.
For the Trojans, this is the sort of game that can answer a few lingering questions about where they really stand. Oregon brings its own form into the matchup, and around the country other ranked showdowns like Florida-Ole Miss are adding to a week that already feels loaded with consequence. USC has looked the part in stretches, but this one figures to show whether the Trojans are ready for the next step or still have something to prove. [Read more 🡒]