USC brought Lincoln Riley in from Oklahoma expecting playoff appearances to become routine. That hasn’t happened yet. The Trojans have missed the College Football Playoff every year under Riley, including last season when they stumbled down the stretch and lost to Oregon in November. But with star quarterback Jayden Maiava back for 2026, Riley thinks this is the year everything clicks.
“You got to go win the games. We have the people to do it,” Riley said, via On3 Sports. “We have more reasons why we should and could do it versus why maybe we can’t.”
Jayden Maiava is the centerpiece
Maiava had a huge 2025 season and enters 2026 as a Heisman Trophy favorite and likely first-round NFL Draft pick. He gives USC a proven playmaker at the most important position. That alone keeps the Trojans in the conversation nationally. But the questions start everywhere else.
Wide receiver is the obvious concern. The Trojans lost Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL, leaving a hole that recruiting alone might not fill overnight. It’s reasonable to expect that unit to take a step back. But the running back room should be strong, and another year of growth from Maiava could mitigate some of the damage.
Gary Patterson is the wild card
USC brought in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator. That’s a big deal for a program where defense has been a consistent problem — going back to Riley’s time at Oklahoma. Patterson has a track record of turning units around. If he can get the Trojans playing average to above-average defense, the path to a Big Ten title and a CFP berth opens up.
Nobody is pretending the schedule gets easier. The Big Ten is loaded. But USC has the personnel to make noise. The question is whether a defense that has been a liability for years can finally hold up its end. If Patterson can make that happen, Riley’s confidence might look prescient rather than stubborn.
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