Week 11: USC Trojans
Date & Time: Saturday, November 14 at TBA
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
TV: TBA
Trojans at a Glance
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley
Entering his 5th season as USC’s head coach, entering 10th Season overall
Record at USC: 35-18 (24-12)
Overall Record: 90-28
Last Season: 9-4 (7-2) Lost to TCU in Alamo Bowl
Series History vs. Indiana
Record: 4-0
Last Meeting: USC won 28-7 in 1982
Trojans Returning Leaders
Passing: Jayden Maiava (265-403, 3,711 yards, 24 TDs 10 INTs, 157 Rush Yards, 6 TDs)
Rushing: King Miller (150 rushes, 932 yards 10 TDs)
Receiving: Tanook Hines (34 catches, 561 yards 2 TDs)
Tackles: Desman Stephens (89 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 Forced Fumble)
Trojans Names to Know
Jayden Maiava, Quarterback
King Miller, Running Back
Luke Wafle, Edge
Trojans Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 5th in the Big Ten
Lindy’s: 4th in the Big Ten
Phil Steele: 4th in the Big Ten
Sporting News: 4th in the Big Ten
SP+: 13th Nationally
Impact Newcomers for the Trojans
Luke Walfe, Edge
Trent Mosely, Wide Receiver
Mark Bowman, Tight End
Biggest Questions Facing the Trojans
1. Can Gary Patterson fix the defense?
2. Can Multiple true freshmen make immediate impacts?
3. Will the Trojans have enough to survive their schedule?
4. Is 2026 Playoff or bust for Lincoln Riley?
Trojans Program Preview
The USC Trojans enter year five of Lincoln Riley without a Big Ten title game or College Football Playoff appearance. It’s safe to say his seat is getting warm under the Southern California sun. In order to keep the sun from setting on Riley’s tenure he brought in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to run his 4-2-5 defense.
The Trojan offense is usually very good and that should be the case again as USC returns quarterback Jayden Maiava, running back King Miller and receiver Tanook Hines. They were slated to return all five starting offensive linemen, but a season ending injury to center Killian O’Connor will test their depth.
USC brought in the top recruiting class of the 2026 cycle and many of those players will be asked to play important roles for this team. Their projected two-deep features four true freshmen to start between the offense and defense.
While the Trojans do not play Notre Dame and get two bye weeks since they play in Week 0, the schedule does not do them a ton of favors. USC will have to make three trips the Eastern Time Zone (Rutgers, Penn State, Indiana) and after their first bye they travel to Wisconsin before hosting Ohio State. The Trojans also have to play Oregon and at Washington. The path to the Playoff is there, but it’s not easy.
Offensive Preview
The USC offense should be explosive again after averaging 35.8 points per game in 2025. Led by quarterback Jayden Maiava, who is one of the most exciting players in a very deep quarterback class, is back. He got off to a hot start with 11 touchdown passes and just one interception in his first five games. Over the last eight games, he threw 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The word out of USC camp is that he has taken the next step to improve his consistency.
There is a battle between former top recruit Jonas Williams, who is a freshman and senior Sam Huard. There is very little experience behind Maiava so keeping him upright is a top priority.
Building depth and toughness along the offensive line was a top priority for the Trojans in the offseason. However, a fall camp injury to projected starting center Killian O’Connor is going to put that depth to the test.
With O’Connor out, the Trojans’ listed backup is Willi Wascher who has zero game experience. The other four linemen are returning starters. Elijah Paige and Justin Tauanuu will start at left and right tackle respectively. Paige has 20 starts over the last two seasons while Tauanuu made 12 starts in 2025.
Junior Alani Noa will be back at left guard after starting 22 of the last 24 games and Tobias Raymond will be on the right side after starting 13 games at three different spots last season.
The Trojans will have to replace NFL draftees Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, but have the raw talent to do so. Tanook Hines is the Trojans leading returning receiver and looks to take the next step in 2026. He started five games last season and could be a breakout star after making 34 catches for 561 yards.
North Carolina State transfer Terrell Anderson made five starts for the Wolfpack and had 629 yards in 13 games in 2025. Sophomore Zacharyus Williams will move into a starting role after playing five games last season.
USC did bring in a great recruiting haul at receiver as well, so don’t be surprised to see Kayden Dixon-Wyatt or Trent Mosely make a splash early.
The tight end position may see another true freshman, Mark Bowman, move up the depth chart if Wisconsin transfer Tucker Ashcraft does not pan out. Ashcraft started six games for the Badgers last season.
The Trojans should have a dynamic one-two punch at running back in Waymond Jordan and King Miller. Miller led the Trojans in rushing after Jordan went down with an injury, but he is back healthy this fall.
Defensive Preview
The issue with Lincoln Riley-coached teams has always been the defense. This season he brought former TCU head coach Gary Patterson out of retirement to revamp that side of the ball with his 4-2-5 defense. There is no question that USC has the athletes to be great on defense, but it needs to be proven on the field.
Last year’s leading tackler, Desman Stephens, is back to play the mike linebacker. He made 89 tackles with three for a loss last season. Jaydn Walker will play next to him at the will spot after making 33 tackles with four for a loss in 13 games. Both have the size and attributes to be high-caliber Big Ten linebackers.
Kameryn Crawford anchors the defensive line for the Trojans. Homemade 10.5 tackles for loss and had 5.5 sacks a year ago as a sophomore defensive end. True freshman Luke Wafle could work his way into starting at the opposite end. Waffle was one number one rated player in the 2026 cycle and comes from the Hun School in New Jersey.
In the middle of the line is returning starter Jide Abasiri, who is battle Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeren for the starting nose position. Abasiri did make 3.5 sacks last season. Jakeem Stewart may miss the beginning of the year due tio injury, but shoud be back for the start of Big Ten play. Stewart’s absence will allow USC to build some experienced depth behind him.
The secondary is full of talent, but also full of questions. Free safety Christian Pierce is the elderstatesman of the group and will be leaned on for stability. Pierce made 64 tackles and had an interception in 2025. Kennedy Urlacher, who has NFL royalty in his blood, is slated to start at strong safety after making an interception and a couple dozen tackles in a reserve role last season.
Senior cornerback Jontez Williams comes in from Iowa State and is coming off a torn ACL. In five games last year, Williams had an interception and 15 tackles. Opposite him is Marcelles Williams, a junior who needs to be better than he was in 2025. The third corner will be redshirt freshman ALex Graham. The biggest issue in the secondary could be depth as three of the five main backups are all freshmen.
Special Teams Preview
The Trojan special teams will be coordinated by a familiar face to Hoosier fans, Mike Ekeler. Sophomore kicker Ryon Sayeri was 21-25 on field goals as a freshman and looks to improve upon those numbers. Lachlan Carrigan comes over from Memphis to punt. He averaged 43 yards a boot last season.
USC should have enough athletes to throw back at the return positions as well. All four returners from a year ago have moved on, but they’ll have a number of talented options who can field kicks and punts.
2026 FIRST GLANCE PREVIEWS
Week Six: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Week Seven: Ohio State Buckeyes
Week Eight: Michigan Wolverines
Week Nine: Minnesota Golden Gophers
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