Lincoln Riley enters the 2026 season with USC carrying real playoff expectations, and the Trojans have plenty working in their favor. They bring back key players on both sides of the ball, add a new defensive coordinator, and welcome the No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class to Los Angeles.
In a Big Ten that figures to be unforgiving, the setup is there. The question is whether USC finally turns that promise into a breakthrough and reaches the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
That path includes a handful of games the Trojans cannot treat lightly. Even with a non-conference slate that is expected to be manageable, the schedule turns quickly once Big Ten play begins, and USC opens conference action on the road for the third straight season. This time, the Trojans head to Piscataway to face Rutgers.
Rutgers finished 5-7 last season and lost all seven of its conference games, but the Scarlet Knights still have a weapon that can stress USC early. Wide receiver KJ Duff is coming off a season in which he was the third-leading receiver in the Big Ten, piling up 60 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. For USC’s secondary, that is the first major test of the year, and the way the Trojans handle it could help shape the tone of their season.
Another game that demands attention comes against Washington, a team USC will see for the first time since the 2024 season. The last meeting went the Huskies’ way, with USC falling 26-21 in Seattle, so there will be some revenge on the Trojans’ side when the matchup shifts to the Coliseum. But Washington, now led by coach Jedd Fisch, is not a soft landing spot.
The biggest reason is quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who is back after throwing for 3,065 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He gives Washington a real chance to test USC’s secondary, and the timing makes the game even trickier. It comes one week after USC’s early-season showdown with Oregon at the Coliseum, which means the Huskies could catch the Trojans in either a revenge spot or a trap spot depending on how much emotion gets spent the week before.
USC also has a trip to Madison that could get uncomfortable fast. Wisconsin stayed with Luke Fickell after a 4-8 season in 2025, a year in which the Badgers’ two Big Ten wins came at Camp Randall Stadium against Illinois and Washington, both top-25 teams. That record does not reflect the standard Wisconsin fans are used to, but Camp Randall still carries the kind of edge that can rattle visiting teams.
Then comes the Crosstown Rivalry, and this year’s edition has the feel of something that could turn quickly. UCLA enters its first season under Bob Chesney with starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava back, and the Bruins have the look of a team that could be more dangerous than people expect in the Big Ten. Last season at the Coliseum, UCLA pushed USC by leading at halftime before the Trojans pulled away for a 29-10 win and kept the Victory Bell for a second straight year.
Now the setting shifts to the Rose Bowl, and with better coaching in place, the Bruins have a chance to make things interesting in a hurry. For USC, it is another game that cannot be brushed aside.
In Other News...
Luke Fickell May Be Closing In On Another In-State Recruiting Win
The Badgers have spent plenty of time trying to keep the best in-state talent close to home, and another Wisconsin prospect appears to be trending in that direction. A 2028 defensive lineman has drawn attention from several Big Ten programs, but Wisconsin has stayed involved from the start, with Luke Fickell and his staff making clear they want to be part of the conversation early.
The interest has not come out of nowhere, either. The recruit has already spent time around the program at camps, and Wisconsin extended an offer in December after that familiarity had been built. With the Badgers pushing for another homegrown addition and other conference schools still in the mix, this one has the feel of an early recruiting battle worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Defense Has 3 Breakout Athletes Fans Need To Watch
Wisconsins defense is heading into the season with a few intriguing pieces who could change the feel of the unit, and the buzz starts with the kind of athletes this staff has been able to identify and develop. Sebastian Cheeks has already drawn attention for his range, while Clayton has been singled out as a player with the kind of physical tools that can tilt a front in a hurry. Add in the staffs belief in the overall athletic profile of this group, and theres a real sense that the Badgers may have more speed and disruption on that side of the ball than theyve shown in a while.
The most interesting part is how those traits could fit together once the games start. Jon Jon Kamara gives Wisconsin a different look at linebacker and could help them match up better in space, while Cai Bates brings size and length to a cornerback battle that is still very much alive. Even if Bates does not win the job outright, he looks positioned to be involved plenty, which is exactly the kind of depth chart wrinkle that can matter over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans Hated The New Look Until One Detail Emerged
Wisconsins new look for Week 1 against Notre Dame has been one of those reveals that immediately split the fan base. The jersey drew most of the heat, especially for its silver and chrome touches, but the full uniform package at least gave Badgers supporters one part to latch onto: the all-red helmets with the motion W.
That helmet combination has a spotless history, which is enough to make even the skeptics pause before writing the whole thing off. Wisconsin also said the silver and chrome elements were meant to nod to the Lombardi Trophy, a detail that may help explain the design even if it has not exactly softened the initial reaction. [Read more 🡒]