USC football gets fresh motivation before 2026 season begins

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The USC Trojans face one of their most important seasons in program history in 2026. They haven't made the College Football Playoff in any of the past 12 seasons. Lincoln Riley's reputation as a coach has plummeted. Frustration surrounding the program has mounted. USC needs to get the job done this year. The Trojans have some motivation to prove the experts wrong, because no Trojan made the USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America college football team.

The team, USA TODAY wrote, "features standouts from the favorites for this year’s College Football Playoff, with multiple first- and second-team selections from Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia and Texas. The biggest debate might have come at quarterback, where Oregon’s Dante Moore earned first-team accolades over Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.On the other hand, there was no debate over the three players who earned unanimous first-team honors: Mississippi running back Kewan Lacy, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore."

Not even one member of the USC offense made the All-America team. It's a product of Ohio State and Oregon being perceived as the top two teams in the country, reflected in national preseason polls. USC is taking a back seat to the Buckeyes and Ducks, not to mention the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. The Trojans have a ton to prove. Let's see if they can make the statement their fans have longed for them to make.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football gets fresh motivation before 2026 season begins

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