USC’s 2026 schedule already looked brutal, and the preseason poll just put a sharper edge on it.
When the preseason 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll, presented by USA TODAY Sports, came out, it confirmed what the Trojans are walking into this fall: a Big Ten grind with the top of the sport standing right in their path. Ohio State is No. 1 and Oregon is No. 2, and both are on USC’s schedule. Indiana, the defending national champion, checks in at No. 6 and is also part of the Trojans’ slate.
That means three of the top six teams in the country are lined up against USC. Not hidden somewhere on the schedule, not waiting in some hypothetical postseason bracket - right there on the regular-season road map. It’s a reminder that even if USC’s roster is viewed as better than it was a year ago, the path to the College Football Playoff is anything but clean.
The contrast with 2025 is hard to miss. USC had a much friendlier schedule last season and did not have to deal with Ohio State or Indiana, the two teams that ended up meeting in the Big Ten Championship Game. Both reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and Indiana kept rolling from there to win it all.
USC still finished 9-3. The loss that stuck with people most was the one to Illinois, the game that fans and analysts came back to as the most crushing and important defeat of the year.
That’s what makes the 2026 setup so daunting. USC could actually play better football than it did in 2025 and still wind up in the same place, simply because the schedule has turned into such a steep climb.
In Other News...
USC Just Lost A Crucial Piece Up Front Before The Season
USC took a hit up front this week when Lincoln Riley said projected starting center Kilian O'Connor will be sidelined for the 2026 season after suffering an injury in practice. A fifth-year senior and former walk-on, O'Connor had worked his way into a key role for the Trojans and had already started several games, making him one of the more important stability pieces on the interior of the offensive line.
The injury came on a non-contact play, and O'Connor is set to undergo surgery as USC now has to sort out its next move at center. His absence leaves a notable gap for a line that was counting on his experience, especially given his history of knee issues, and it puts the spotlight on Tobias Raymond as the most immediate option to absorb those snaps. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Receiver Buzz Is Growing As One Key Job Stays Open
The Bloom Center at USC officially opened with a ribbon-cutting event for donors and invite-only guests, giving the program a fresh showcase as fall camp rolls on behind the scenes. On the field, the Trojans went through a routine fifth practice with no major lineup changes, but the wide receiver room continued to stand out because of its sheer talent and depth, including several true freshmen who are already making that group look deeper than expected.
Even with the receiver buzz building, one special teams spot remains unsettled. The kick return job is still being evaluated, and multiple players have gotten work there as the staff keeps sorting out who best fits the role. It is another small but important reminder that USC is still in the stage where competition is alive across the roster, even as certain position groups begin to separate themselves. [Read more 🡒]
USC WR Terrell Anderson Revealed The Toughest Cover Test Of His Career
Adjusting to USC has meant more than learning a new playbook for Terrell Anderson. The former North Carolina State receiver has been talking about the early stretch of his transition with the Trojans, and the part that seems to have sharpened him most is the daily work against USCs secondary. That side of practice has forced him to get used to different looks, different speed, and the kind of competition that can make a transfer feel at home faster than any classroom session.
Anderson also pointed to the value of those college matchups when asked about the toughest cover tests of his career, and the answer says plenty about the level of competition he has already faced. As USC looks ahead to a 2026 slate that will bring more demanding defensive assignments, his perspective is a reminder that development often happens long before Saturdays arrive. For a wideout trying to settle in, those repeated battles can shape both confidence and timing in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]