USC Must Overcome Tough 2026 Schedule to Succeed Under Riley
The 2026 season could be a defining year for the USC Trojans and head coach Lincoln Riley. With a schedule packed full of huge matchups, the Trojans face a gauntlet that’ll push them to their limits and, honestly, decide where they stand in the College Football Playoff race.
USC enters its fifth year under Riley, and the pressure’s on to deliver. Fans want the program back in the national spotlight, and, well, who can blame them?
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The Brutal 2026 Schedule
The Big Ten just dropped USC’s 2026 schedule, and it’s, frankly, a nightmare. Conference games include Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon—three of last season’s top five playoff seeds.
That’s not all. The Trojans will also host Washington and travel cross-country to Penn State in early October. Each of these games could shake up the playoff picture—no exaggeration.
Key Matchups
Here are a few games that stand out and, honestly, could make or break USC’s season:
- Indiana: Conference clash with a recent playoff contender.
- Ohio State: Late October, and it might just decide everything.
- Oregon: Another top seed, another huge test.
- Washington: A must-win at home if USC wants to stay relevant.
- Penn State: Early October, on the road, and it won’t be easy.
The Big Ten’s won the last three national championships, so the competition’s no joke. USC’s going to need to be sharp—no room for off days.
Lincoln Riley’s Fifth Year: The Time is Now
Year five for Lincoln Riley, and expectations are sky-high. The team’s rolling with the slogan The Time is Now, and, honestly, it fits.
Riley came over from Oklahoma back in 2021 with a monster 10-year deal. He’d made three straight conference titles and playoff runs there, but, so far, matching that in Los Angeles hasn’t been a walk in the park.
Past Performance and Future Expectations
In Riley’s first USC season, they nearly made the playoff. They won 11 regular season games and had a shot in the Pac-12 Championship against Utah.
They jumped out to an early two-touchdown lead but fell apart in the final three quarters. If Caleb Williams hadn’t tweaked his hamstring, maybe things go differently? Hard to say. The defense didn’t help much either, and, in the end, the result’s all that matters.
Progress and Development
Last season, USC improved by three games over 2024 and stayed in the playoff conversation until late November. Riley kept pointing to the team’s progress and how last season set the table for what’s next.
The next step? Beat the big boys in the conference—simple, but not easy. That’s what it takes to be considered elite.
Opportunities for Signature Wins
There’s no shortage of chances for USC to score signature wins this year. Hosting Oregon in September, Ohio State in October, and Indiana in November—any of those could flip the season on its head.
Win a couple of those, and recruiting gets a serious boost. You can feel the stakes, can’t you?
Recruiting and Player Development
USC just landed the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, which is huge. But they’ll need to keep stacking talent in the years ahead.
Excuses won’t fly. The record at the end of the year is what matters. Three losses? Forget about the playoff. Even two might not cut it, depending on how things shake out during conference championship weekend.
Next season, it’s about the players taking a big leap—and, honestly, surprising people. Remember what Indiana did under Curt Cignetti in 2025? They pulled off a huge home win over No. 9 Illinois and then stunned No. 3 Oregon in Eugene. That’s the kind of spark USC needs.
Conclusion
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a big one for USC and Lincoln Riley. With a tough schedule looming, there’s a lot riding on how the Trojans handle the challenge.
Riley’s got plenty to prove. Can he really lead USC back into the national spotlight?
If you’re looking for more updates or want to dig deeper into the 2026 season, check out Sports Illustrated.
