USC heads into Aug. 29 with the kind of pressure that comes with big-time expectations. The Trojans open the 2026 college football season against San Jose State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and in Lincoln Riley’s fifth year, the roster has enough firepower to push for the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
That goal has been close before, and the conversation around USC this fall is less about whether the talent is there and more about which pieces need to take a step forward. With a Big Ten schedule that features Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana, the Trojans have a narrow path to the finish line they want. Three areas stand out as especially important.
The backfield could be one of USC’s biggest strengths. Last season, injuries to Eli Sanders and Waymond Jordan opened the door for former walk-on King Miller, who broke out in the Trojans’ 31-13 win over Michigan and became the centerpiece of the rushing attack. He finished with 972 yards and eight touchdowns on 6.2 yards per carry, and now he has a chance to top 1,000 yards.
Jordan is also back in the mix after missing the rest of last season with a season-ending ankle injury against Michigan. Before that setback, he had 88 carries for 576 yards and five touchdowns.
Put him alongside Miller, and USC suddenly has a duo that could rank among the Big Ten’s best. Riley’s offenses at Oklahoma and USC haven’t been known for elite run-game efficiency, but this season gives the Trojans a chance to change that.
The other major question sits on defense, where USC has too often been undone by its run defense. That issue showed up clearly in the Trojans’ four losses last season, including the 34-24 road loss to Notre Dame, when Jeremiyah Love ran for 228 yards and a touchdown.
Now Gary Patterson is in place as the new defensive coordinator, and the former TCU coach is expected to add more toughness and physicality, especially up front. That front seven will be watched closely all season, with Jide Abasiri and Alex VanSumeren at defensive tackle and Jahkeem Stewart and Kameryn Crawford at defensive end among the names to know.
Up front on offense, USC has a chance to be loaded. The Trojans return nearly everyone from last year’s line, including left tackle Elijah Paige, guards Tobias Raymond and Alani Noa, and right tackle Justin Tauanuu. The one major hit came when center Killian O’Connor suffered a season-ending injury at the start of fall camp, which means younger players will need to be ready sooner than expected.
There is also a major newcomer on the way in Keenyi Pepe, one of the top offensive line recruits in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, is ranked No. 5 nationally and No. 1 among offensive tackles by 247Sports. With that kind of profile, Pepe could work his way into the starting picture as the season goes on.
Protection has been a strength for USC with Jayden Maiava, and keeping that standard intact will matter again this fall. With a playoff push hanging over everything, the Trojans are set up for a season where improvement in these three spots could make all the difference.
In Other News...
USC Just Lost A Crucial Piece Up Front Before The Season
USC got an unwelcome hit to its offensive line before the season even began, with Lincoln Riley saying projected starting center Kilian O'Connor will be sidelined after suffering an injury in practice. The fifth-year senior and former walk-on had worked his way into a key spot up front and had already started several games, making him one of the more important stability pieces for a unit that was counting on veteran help in the middle.
The injury came on a non-contact play, a particularly frustrating turn for a player who has dealt with knee issues before. For USC, the timing creates an immediate question at center and forces the staff to sort through its options as camp unfolds, with Tobias Raymond now part of the conversation while O'Connor prepares for surgery and a long road back. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Gained A Recruiting Edge Fans Will Love
USC officially opened its new Bloom Football Performance Center, a $200 million upgrade that replaces the John McKay Center and gives the football program a home built specifically for the sport. The facility is designed to sharpen player preparation while also strengthening camaraderie, and it arrives as a major statement about how seriously the Trojans are investing in the programs future.
Christian Pierce and Tobias Raymond both came away impressed by what the building offers, pointing to the advanced training and recovery features as a clear step forward for the roster. Beyond the day-to-day benefits for current players, the new center also adds a recruiting edge that USC believes will resonate with prospects looking for an elite college football environment. [Read more 🡒]
USC Suddenly Has A Big Question Up Front Before The Season
USCs offensive line took an early hit in camp when Kilian OConnor went down with a non-contact injury in practice, an unwelcome setback for a group that had been counting on him to anchor the middle. OConnor, who had already fought through a knee injury last season, was projected to start at center this fall and had become enough of a presence that Lincoln Riley singled him out as a leader.
Now the Trojans have to sort through their depth chart and make a pivot up front before the season settles in. Riley said USC has depth at center to help cover the loss, but losing an experienced voice in the middle is never ideal, especially for an offense that wants the line to be steady from day one. The next task is finding which way the staff wants to go, and whether the replacement can settle the unit quickly enough to keep the early months from turning into a much bigger story. [Read more 🡒]