Matt Leinart shares his expectations for USC in 2026
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
It is no secret that this is a massive season for the USC football program. With plenty of talent returning from last year’s team and a loaded recruiting class coming in, many feel as though this could finally be the year that head coach Lincoln Riley is able to break through and take the Trojans to the College Football Playoff.
This week, I was able to speak to legendary USC quarterback Matt Leinart through his partnership with the Big Ten and Abbott’s “We Give Blood” drive. During our conversation, I asked Leinart for his expectations for the Trojans this fall.
“I think the expectation is a playoff spot,” Leinart said. “I think that’s something that is obtainable with the roster that they have.
“This is year five under Coach Riley. The recruiting has been great the last couple years.
“From a personnel standpoint, they have positioned themselves to be a potential playoff team. The challenge is the schedule is really difficult.
“You have to play Oregon and Ohio State, two preseason top five teams. Indiana’s right there—the defending national champion. The Big Ten Conference is the best conference in college football.
“10-2 is gonna make the College Football Playoff. 9-3 is not. And I just mentioned some of those games that are huge.
“Excited to see what they have. At the end of the day, they gotta go out there and they gotta perform.”
As for the blood drive, which features a competition to see which school donates the most, Leinart wants to see more USC fans step up in donating this year.
“Nebraska’s been great,” Leinart said. I think they won the first year. Wisconsin, a lot of those schools in the Midwest [have donated the most].
“We need to get USC a little more, you know, my school needs to step up.”
Those looking to learn more about the blood drive can do so here.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Matt Leinart shares his expectations for USC in 2026
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos