USC heads into 2026 with the kind of offense that can carry a season, but the Trojans’ real offseason story is about what got better around Jayden Maiava - and what took a hit.
The clearest upgrade came up front. USC returns an experienced offensive line, and that matters with Maiava back after leading the Big Ten in passing last year and drawing attention as an underrated Heisman Trophy contender. The Trojans are bringing back left tackle Elijah Paige, guards Tobias Raymond and Alani Noa, right tackle Justin Tauanuu, and center Killian O’Connor, giving Riley a group that should provide steady protection.
There’s also a major new piece on the way in Keenyi Pepe. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound offensive tackle from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, arrives as the No. 5 player nationally and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2026 recruiting class.
How fast he gets onto the field will be one of the early questions of fall camp, but his talent gives USC another high-end option in a room that already looks strong. Last season, the Trojans’ line was among the best in the country at avoiding sacks, and that’s a standard they’ll try to keep.
The tougher offseason development came at linebacker, where USC lost four players to the transfer portal: Matai Tagoa’i, AJ Tuitele, Anthony Beavers Jr., and Popo Aguirre. The Trojans did add Washington transfer Deven Bryant, but the group still stands out as the least experienced on the roster.
That puts even more pressure on Desman Stephens II and Jadyn Waker. They’re the key returners, and USC needs both of them to set the tone.
Last season, Stephens and Walker combined for 122 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack. Ta’Mere Robinson and Elijah Newby are also important depth pieces, but the burden at the position falls on the veterans.
With fall camp underway, USC is trying to sharpen the parts of the roster that can push it toward a College Football Playoff run. The season opens Aug. 29 against San Jose State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Trojans’ offseason gains and losses are already easy to spot.
In Other News...
USCs New Defensive Identity Is Starting To Feel Very Real
Alex VanSumerens move from Michigan State to USC was one of the quieter offseason additions, but it fits neatly into the kind of defensive makeover the Trojans have been trying to sell around the program. At Big Ten Media Days, the lineman talked about what drew him west, pointing first to the coaching staff, then to USCs tradition, and then to the culture he says has taken shape under Lincoln Riley. For a team trying to convince the rest of the league that its identity is changing, those are the kinds of details that matter.
VanSumeren also described a competitive environment inside the program, one that has pushed him while still making the transition feel welcoming. He said the support from teammates has stood out, which is hardly a small thing for a transfer trying to find his footing in a new locker room. For USC, the larger takeaway is encouraging: the defensive side of the roster is not just collecting bodies, it is beginning to sound like a group that believes in where it is headed. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fall Camp Is Turning Up The Heat On Rising Playmakers
Fall camp is starting to sort out which USC newcomers can push for real roles, and a few names have already begun to separate themselves in practice and scrimmage settings. True freshmen Boobie Feaster and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt have drawn notice for promising early work, while King Miller and Luke Wafle are also among the young players creating enough buzz to keep the coaching staff leaning in. On the other side of the roster, transfer cornerback Williams has been part of the conversation too, as USC keeps evaluating who can help most once the season gets rolling.
For a team still putting pieces together before the opener, those kinds of flashes matter because they can change the depth chart quickly. The coaches have talked about the challenges of transition and what it takes to look ready in camp, and that is where the next few practices will matter most for this group of rising playmakers. The talent is clearly there, but the real question is how much of it will translate when the Trojans stop practicing against each other and start playing for keeps. [Read more 🡒]
Jide Abasiri Is Setting The Tone For USCs New-Look D-Line
Jide Abasiri has spent this offseason doing more than just adjusting to a different spot on USCs defensive front. The junior has embraced a bigger leadership role while moving to the outside of the line more often, a change that asked him to reshape his body and play style for what the Trojans need from him now. Even with the adjustment, he still carries the reputation as one of the strongest players on the roster, which makes his presence especially important for a unit that is trying to come together quickly.
USCs defensive line looks a lot different this year, with returning pieces mixing alongside transfers and freshmen to create more depth and experience than the group had before. In that kind of setting, Abasiris blend of physicality and growing responsibility matters beyond his own snaps. The real question now is how much that expanded role can translate once the Trojans start leaning on this new-look front in games. [Read more 🡒]