Can USC’s 2026 Offense Live Up to the Hype?
After a disappointing end to the 2025 season for USC football, there was still plenty of upside to look forward to for this fall. QB Jayden Maiava led the Big Ten in passing yards, where he mostly targeted his NFL-caliber receivers, Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, who are now playing on Sundays. Aside from losing their two best receivers, Lincoln Riley and the recruiting staff did a good job of making up for the damage. Former NC State WR Terrell Anderson will be joining the program and looking to be a big target for one of last year’s Heisman favorites, as he stands at six feet two, weighs 185, and looks to be a nightmare for Big Ten defensive backs.
As for the ground game, the Trojans are retaining RB King Miller, who helped take the load off Maiava in several games last year, where he ran for eight touchdowns and just under 1,000 yards. While the Big Ten is notorious for being a run-heavy, lower-scoring conference, it is clear that narrative has changed within the last five years, especially in the last two with the West Coast teams joining. USC’s offense is a key example of this. When they brought in Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma, they expected him to be offensive-heavy, and he has done a great job maintaining a high-flying offense during his short tenure. Riley has also developed many offensive weapons from both schools that have gone on to the NFL, and it is clear that no matter the talent on his roster, he knows how to win games with any offense.
Looking at the opponents this year for the Trojans, they are not getting off easy at all. With away games against Indiana, Penn State, and Wisconsin, these Southern California guys will need to adapt to the weather change upon arrival. This year's squad also has to go against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington, but thankfully these will be played at the LA Coliseum, even though it's not much of an atmosphere. Their Week 10 game against the Buckeyes will be quite challenging, as they were one of the best defenses last year, and it will be interesting to see what Ryan Day's game plan is against this electric Trojan offense. If USC can make it past the game against OSU with at worst two losses, they may be able to sneak their way into the playoff, but with how loaded the Big Ten is, it would be an accomplishment to even be in the conversation.
