USC’s Playoff Hopes Hinge on Offensive Development and Road Performance

In Lincoln Riley’s fifth year at the helm, the USC Trojans are feeling the heat. It’s time to finally break through and grab a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The new 12-team format is in its second year, which means expectations are sky-high. Let’s get into what might actually push the Trojans over the edge—mainly, the development of quarterback Jayden Maiava and how the team gels around him.

The Jayden Maiava Factor

Jayden Maiava is heading into his third year in Riley’s offense. He made real progress between 2024 and 2025, so naturally, everyone expects even more now.

The “Riley effect” is still alive, but Maiava can’t do it all. With Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Lake McRee gone, the offense needs new faces to step up.

Replacing Key Offensive Players

USC has to figure out how to fill the shoes of those departed stars. Tanook Hines, who really came on strong late last season, and Terrell Anderson, a top recruit from NC State, are expected to play big roles.

Utah transfer Zacharyus Williams and 2025 recruit Corey Simms are also in the mix. They’re going to be asked to do a lot with Lemon and Lane out of the picture.

• Tanook Hines: Wrapped up last season with two games of 140+ receiving yards in the final three.
• Terrell Anderson: Former top 100 recruit who broke out at NC State.
• Zacharyus Williams: Missed a chunk of time with injury, but the potential is there.
• Corey Simms: Four-star recruit, eager to make a splash.

There’s also a batch of promising freshmen receivers. Four-stars Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Boobie Feaster, and Trent Mosley all look like they could be factors. How quickly this group grows up might be the difference for Maiava next season.

Offensive Line and Running Game

As always, it starts up front. USC gets all five starting offensive linemen back, which is rare and honestly pretty valuable in college football.

Still, just being solid isn’t enough—they need to take over games and really push people around.

Running Back Duo

King Miller and Waymond Jordan are back as the main guys in the backfield. They’re a pretty dynamic pair, and their play should help take some heat off Maiava.

• King Miller: One of last season’s top rushers.
• Waymond Jordan: Makes a strong duo alongside Miller.

Defensive Overhaul

Defense has been a sore spot for USC during Riley’s time. To shake things up, they’ve made some big changes to the coaching staff.

Gary Patterson, the former TCU head coach, is now running the defense. His longtime assistant Paul Gonzales is handling the secondary, and Mike Ekeler came over from Nebraska to coach special teams and linebackers.

Defensive Line Improvements

The defensive line, especially on the inside, has to get better. USC has put a lot of energy and resources into recruiting for that group.

If the defensive front doesn’t take a leap, it’s hard to see the rest of the defense holding up.

The 2026 Schedule: A Gauntlet

USC’s 2026 schedule is, frankly, brutal. They’ve got Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, and Penn State lined up.

But, if they want to be taken seriously in the conference, there’s no room for excuses about the schedule.

Home Field Advantage

On3’s JD Pickell points out that protecting home field is a must. If USC wins every game at the Coliseum, they’re sitting pretty for a playoff bid.

Those home games against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington? Absolutely massive.

• Ohio State: Huge home test.
• Oregon: Another tough opponent at the Coliseum.
• Washington: Critical for home field dominance.

USC has to get better on the road, too. All four of their 2025 losses came away from the Coliseum, and they’ve only won two road games outside California since joining the Big Ten.

Maiava’s performance dipped hard on the road, so that’s something to watch. Can he turn it around this year? We’ll see.

Conclusion

2026 could be the year USC flips the script. There’s a new coaching staff, a handful of exciting young players, and, truthfully, a schedule that’ll test them every week.

Jayden Maiava’s development might just be the biggest storyline. Can he step up and fill some big shoes?

Replacing the production of last season’s stars won’t be simple. But if they can pull it off as a group—and if Gary Patterson’s defense finally clicks—well, maybe the College Football Playoff isn’t so far-fetched after all.

Want to dig deeper? Check out the full article on Sports Illustrated.