2026 USC Football Season Preview: Trojans Ready to Take the Next Step

LOS ANGELES — Expectations are high in Los Angeles as USC enters the 2026 college football season looking to establish itself as a true Big Ten contender. After another productive offseason under head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans return one of the conference’s most experienced rosters while adding the nation’s consensus No. 1 recruiting class.

USC opens the season with three consecutive home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, beginning with San José State on Aug. 29 before hosting Fresno State and Louisiana. The Trojans then begin Big Ten play with a road trip to Rutgers before welcoming Oregon for one of the most anticipated home games of the season. Matchups against Washington, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana and crosstown rival UCLA highlight a challenging conference schedule.

The biggest reason for optimism is quarterback Jayden Maiava. Entering his second full season as USC’s starter, the senior returns after an impressive 2025 campaign and will once again lead Lincoln Riley’s offense. With another offseason in the system, the Trojans expect even greater consistency from one of the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks.

USC also returns one of the nation’s most experienced offensive lines, with all five starters back from last season. That continuity should provide stability for both the running game and pass protection, giving the offense one of its strongest foundations in recent years. The Trojans also added experienced transfers and several highly regarded freshmen who are expected to compete for playing time immediately.

Defensively, USC enters the season with renewed confidence after adding legendary coach Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator. His arrival headlines several coaching changes designed to improve a unit that has struggled with consistency in recent seasons. The Trojans also return key contributors across the defensive front and secondary while adding talented newcomers through recruiting and the transfer portal.

Special teams remain another strength for USC. Kicker Ryon Sayeri returns after an All-Big Ten season in which he set the program’s single-season field goal record, providing the Trojans with one of the conference’s most reliable specialists.

The schedule will quickly test USC’s championship aspirations. Home games against Oregon, Washington, Ohio State and Maryland, combined with difficult road trips to Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana and UCLA, leave little margin for error. Success in those marquee matchups will likely determine whether the Trojans can compete for a place in the Big Ten Championship Game and the expanded College Football Playoff.

After several seasons of rebuilding the roster and adjusting to life in the Big Ten, many around the program believe 2026 is the year USC is positioned to make a significant leap. With an experienced quarterback, veteran offensive line, improved defense and one of the nation’s most talented recruiting classes, the Trojans have assembled a roster capable of competing with the conference’s best.

Whether USC reaches those expectations will be determined over the next four months, but as kickoff approaches, the Trojans appear ready for one of the most important seasons of the Lincoln Riley era.