USC Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Trojans in 2026

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The 2026 college football season is almost upon us, and the USC Trojans are in win-now mode.

In four years under Lincoln Riley, USC has won 35 games but has not advanced to the College Football Playoff. The Trojans have been non-factors in the Big Ten title race since Riley took charge, and the pressure is on for the once-promising coach to deliver in LA.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is back after a strong first season as QB1. Longtime TCU head coach Gary Patterson is back in the saddle to lead the defense. The Trojans hauled in the top-ranked high school recruiting class last offseason. The time is now for it all to come together and for the Trojans to finally compete on the national stage in 2026.

Here are five bold predictions for USC in 2026.

USC has yet to break through to the College Football Playoff. In all likelihood, that trend will continue this season.

Despite Maiava returning and plenty of promising newcomers on the horizon, USC will struggle to keep up due to its brutal Big Ten slate. The Trojans will likely start the season 4-0 before embarking on a tough three-game conference stretch against Oregon, Washington and Penn State. Later in the year, USC also plays host to Ohio State before traveling to face defending national champion Indiana.

USC should be formidable, but will likely finish in the 8-4 range and miss out on the CFP for the fifth straight season under Riley. If that happens, Riley will be in serious hot water at season’s end.

In 2025, Maiava had a strong season by all accounts. He threw for over 3,700 yards and 24 touchdowns across 13 games.

The problem? He turned the ball over in critical spots. Last season, he had a pair of crucial interceptions on the road against seventh-ranked Oregon. He also turned the ball over twice in a 10-point loss to Notre Dame and again in the bowl game against TCU.

This season, he’ll clean up the turnovers and throw fewer than eight interceptions. He’ll play great against average to below-average teams, and he’ll minimize the turnovers in big games.

The defense will be what lets USC down in big spots and will ultimately result in the Trojans falling short of their lofty expectations.

Want to hear a crazy stat? Before last season’s road win at Purdue, USC had not won a game outside of the Pacific Time Zone since 2023.

There’s no denying it: USC can’t seem to shake the road demons. In 2025, all of USC’s regular-season losses came on the road. In 2024, five of the Trojans’ six losses came outside of LA. The year before, USC lost notable road games against Notre Dame and Oregon.

This year, however, USC will notch a signature road win under Riley. In 2026, the Trojans play big games on the road at Penn State, at Wisconsin and at defending national champs Indiana.

Circle the game against the Nittany Lions. New coach Matt Campbell is breaking in a ton of new players in Year 1, and Penn State feels primed for an upset in that spot.

Patterson brings a wealth of experience to his new defensive coordinator gig in LA. He was the head coach at TCU for 21 seasons and was the architect of some seriously wicked defenses. He’s particularly well-known for his signature 4-2-5 scheme and for creating havoc with his flexible personnel groupings.

After losing D’Anton Lynn to Penn State, Riley took a big swing by hiring Patterson. Patterson won’t be the problem this season, but he has a tall task ahead of him attempting to take a unit from good to great.

Simply put: USC will face some hellacious offenses in 2026. Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana are all poised to have excellent seasons. In all likelihood, this unit will take a step back this season, which will hold the Trojans back from keeping pace in a loaded Big Ten title race.

Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2026

One of the major bright spots of the 2025 USC offense was the production from standout receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. The pair did an excellent job of stress-testing defenses and combined for over 1,900 yards and 15 touchdowns. Both players are off to the NFL, which means the new Trojan wideouts have big shoes to fill.

USC brought in NC State transfer Terrell Anderson. Returner Tanook Hines is also expected to play a big role this season. But keep an eye out for freshman Trent Mosley. He’s gotten some nice buzz out of spring ball and could be a solid third option for Maiava in the passing game.

USC will undoubtedly need some new wide receiver targets to emerge this season. Either Hines or Mosley will need to take a big step forward for the Trojans’ passing game to hit high gear again this season.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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USC Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Trojans in 2026

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