What to know about USC football in 2026

What to know about USC football in 2026

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What to know about USC football in 2026

As the summer rolls along on our march to the start of a brand new college football season, we are beginning to dig deep into the makeup of the Big Ten and the rest of the college football world. The Big Ten has been riding high these past few years with three straight seasons ending with a Big Ten team crowned as kings of the college football world. The USC Trojans believe they can continue the conference’s progress after steady improvement under Lincoln Riley, but have yet to make the College Football Playoff under his leadership. Could 2026 be the year the Trojans finally break through?

Here is a quick look at the USC Trojans heading into the 2026 season.

Quick 2025 Recap

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Southern California Trojans Spirit of Troy marching band spells USC during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

  • Record: 9-4 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten play
  • Bowl result: Lost the Alamo Bowl 30-27 to TCU

The USC Trojans got off to a flying start to their year and ended up averaging the 13th most points per game in the country with 35.8. New quarterback Jayden Maiava took the West Coast by storm as an early Heisman favorite. They were also able to get dominant victories over key Big Ten rivals, winning 31-13 against Michigan and battling out a win against Iowa, 26-21.

However, when they came up against several elite college football powerhouses, they did not perform up to par. They lost to eventual CFP semifinalists Oregon 42-27, while also losing a heartbreaker in conference play to Illinois on a last-second field goal.

This saw them only finish No. 20 in the final AP Poll before coming up short against TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

Head coach: Lincoln Riley, 4th season

Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

  • Record: 90-28, 35-18 with USC

This could prove to be a pivotal year for Lincoln Riley as the discontent continues to grow within the USC fanbase. Riley was supposed to immediately turn around USC and get them back to national relevance. When he brought in Caleb Williams from Oklahoma, that felt like it should have been their best opportunity. But Williams ultimately came up short countless times, and the Trojans have yet to head to the CFP. Now, however, with QB Jayden Maiava returning along with several key weapons from this offense, and a much-improved defense, Riley may have no excuses if this iteration of the team fails to deliver.

Offensive player to know: Jayden Maiava, Quarterback

Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With several of his key receivers, Jayden Maiava is now the face of this USC offense. After an efficient first season at the helm of the Trojans, where he was 5th in the country in passing yards and threw for 24 touchdowns, he will look to up his production. His receiving corps may look wholly different from last year, but expectations will be sky high for the junior

Defensive player to know: Luke Wafle, Edge

A true freshman rarely receives this much hype before a season, but the hype surrounding edge talent Luke Wafle seems to be deserved. The consensus No. 1 overall player in his class according to Rivals, Wafle brings a strong blend of size and athleticism to California. In his time at the Hun School in Princeton, he racked up a school record 23 sacks in his senior season and was named to the National High School All-American team. Look out for this kid come fall.

Does Penn State face USC in 2026?

Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh (68), tight end Tyler Warren (44) and defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas (91) celebrate after defeating the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Nittany Lions will face the Trojans, and this time it will be at Beaver Stadium, potentially in a White Out atmosphere. Penn State will welcome USC to Beaver Stadium on Saturday, October 10. It will be the first time USC has played in Beaver Stadium since joining the Big Ten. USC leads the all-time series, 6-5, but Penn State is 2-0 all-time against USC when playing as a true home team in Beaver Stadium.

The last time the Nittany Lions faced the Trojans was USC’s first year in the Big Ten where the Nittany Lions visited the LA Coliseum and delivered a classic. That was the game where Tyler Warren became a superstar, and Penn State kept their CFP hopes alive after coming back from a 20-6 deficit at the break for a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory.

Full 2026 USC football schedule

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; A Southern California Trojans helmet sits on the field before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Home games in all CAPS.

  • August 29 vs. SAN JOSE STATE
  • September 4 (Friday) vs. FRESNO STATE
  • September 12 vs. LOUISIANA
  • September 19 at Rutgers*
  • September 26 vs. OREGON*
  • October 3. vs. WASHINGTON*
  • October 10 at Penn State*
  • October 17 Bye
  • October 24 at Wisconsin*
  • October 31 vs. OHIO STATE*
  • November 7 Bye
  • November 14 at Indiana*
  • November 21 vs. MARYLAND*
  • November 28 at UCLA*

“*” designates Big Ten Conference game

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: What to know about USC football in 2026

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