USC sits at No. 20 overall in ESPN’s early 2026 college football rankings — eighth in the Big Ten — despite hefty +1400 odds to win the conference title. With playoff veterans like Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon ahead of them, and teams like Michigan, Penn State, and Washington ranked higher, the Trojans are clearly being underestimated. Under Lincoln Riley’s fifth season, USC boasts a 35-18 record but still hasn’t reached the playoffs or won a conference title. Facing Oregon, Ohio State, and defending champ Indiana at home — plus tough road games against Penn State and Washington — the Trojans have a chance to prove their doubters wrong and make a statement in their new conference.

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Ace Leutele, a four-star safety from Mater Dei, is heating up the recruiting scene with 19 offers including UCLA, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and USC — who’s already locked in early with head coach Lincoln Riley. With strong ties to USC through campus visits, familiar coaching staff, and a Polynesian legacy, Leutele’s decision could be swayed by the Trojans’ existing Mater Dei talent like Danny Lang and Aaryn Washington. On the field, he’s a versatile, physical defender with offensive upside — and schools are already moving fast to land him.

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Terrell Anderson, the transfer wide receiver heating up USC’s offense under Lincoln Riley, faces three pivotal tests this season that could catapult him into NFL draft conversations. First, he’ll battle Fresno State’s stingy defense — led by familiar faces from his USC days — in a rivalry game that could expose his early potential. Then comes Oregon, where he’ll be shadowed by top cornerback Brandon Finney and face a high-pressure, man-coverage scheme. Finally, the showdown at Indiana — home of the reigning champs and a stacked secondary — could be his biggest proving ground. If Anderson can break out against these elite defenses, especially with a 100-yard game against Indiana, he could join the elite list of USC transfers who’ve gone first-round.

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From Rose Bowl snaps to Achilles tears and USFL stints, Nico Falah’s journey from Trojan center to NFL grinder is a tale of grit, growth, and gritting through injury.

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Boucard, a six-foot-three, 305-pound defensive lineman, is poised for a breakout sophomore season after earning valuable experience as a freshman rotational player, even battling a lower-body injury that sidelined him for a month. With deep depth at the defensive line and new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson Jr. guiding him, Boucard’s talent and resilience position him to make a major impact this year.

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USC’s defense is getting a major upgrade with the addition of Alex VanSumeren, a big, experienced defensive tackle from Michigan State, poised to anchor a revamped interior line that could finally stop the run and pressure quarterbacks. With VanSumeren joining returning stars Jahkeem Stewart, Jide Abasiri, and Jamaal Jarrett, Gary Patterson now has a versatile, dominant front seven that could be the key to USC’s College Football Playoff push in 2026.

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Five-star recruit Honor Faalave-Johnson is already rewriting the USC playbook before he even steps on campus—signed with Adidas, building ties to Marcus Allen, and poised to become the next two-way Trojan legend. Dominating the OT7 Finals with receiver-like skills while listed as RB/S, he’s shredded defenses as a junior with 1,200+ rushing yards and 28 TDs, plus 38 tackles and interceptions. Named a Junior All-American, he’s already training both ways under Lincoln Riley’s guidance, echoing Adoree’ Jackson’s dual-threat magic—and could bring that same electrifying energy back to Los Angeles.

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USC’s defensive back recruitment machine is firing on all cylinders, locking in top local talent for 2028 with a laser focus on Southern California’s elite safeties and cornerbacks. Ace Leutele, Chauncey Washington II, and Jalen Flowers are among the standout safeties already receiving Trojan offers, while Jordan Hicks and Ca’ron Williams lead the cornerback charge. Even with LSU interest, Hicks remains open to USC, and Derrick Coleman and Jordan Slye are building strong ties with the coaching staff. With coaches like Trovon Reed making lasting impressions, USC’s pipeline of local defensive backs is stronger than ever — setting the stage for sustained dominance in the secondary.

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