USC Trojans is 0-0 on the season, 0-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +17.3. USC Trojans enters the season with a power rating of +17.3, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The USC Trojans host San José State next in Week 0. In 2025, USC Trojans went 9-3 overall, 5-7 against the spread, and 6-6 on totals.
In Week 0 of 2026 the USC Trojans Power Rating of +17.3 is 17.1 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. USC Trojans have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 16,323 miles, ranking 8th heaviest in the FBS.
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | San José State | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 1 | Fresno State | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Louisiana | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 3 | Rutgers | 2,431 mi | 4,862 mi |
| Week 4 | Oregon | Home | 4,862 mi |
| Week 5 | Washington | Home | 4,862 mi |
| Week 6 | Penn State | 2,252 mi | 9,367 mi |
| Week 7 | — | Bye | |
| Week 8 | Wisconsin | 1,674 mi | 12,714 mi |
| Week 9 | Ohio State | Home | 12,714 mi |
| Week 10 | — | Bye | |
| Week 11 | Indiana | 1,792 mi | 16,298 mi |
| Week 12 | Maryland | Home | 16,298 mi |
| Week 13 | UCLA | 12 mi | 16,323 mi |
| Week 14 | — | Bye | |
| Week 15 | — | Bye | |
| Week 16 | — | Bye | |
USC returns all five starters on the offensive line, led by tackles Elijah Paige and Justin Tauanuu, and a running back tandem of Waymond Jordan and King Miller that averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2025. This group is the engine of the offense, with head coach Lincoln Riley calling it potentially the most dominant line he has had. The run game will be critical for controlling games and setting up play-action for quarterback Jayden Maiava.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava finished fifth nationally in passing yards (3,711) and second in QBR (89.9) last season, making him one of the most efficient signal-callers in the country. He must build chemistry with a largely new receiving corps after losing the Biletnikoff Award winner, an All-Big Ten tight end, and a starting wideout. Tanook Hines returns, NC State transfer Terrell Anderson arrives, and freshmen like Boobie Feaster and Mark Bowman will be counted on to step up.
Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Gary Patterson takes over a unit that has been a question mark in recent years. The defensive line has added depth with ends Braylan Shelby and Kameryn Crawford, tackles Jide Abasiri and Jahkeem Stewart, and transfer Zuriah Fisher. The cornerback room is deeper with Marcelles Williams, Prophet Brown, Chasen Johnson, and Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams. The biggest challenge is replacing All-America safety Bishop Fitzgerald, but nickel Alex Graham and safety Christian Pierce provide experience.
New special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler arrives from Nebraska to oversee a unit that returns standout kicker Ryon Sayeri and adds Memphis transfer punter Lachlan Carrigan. The return game will need new faces after Makai Lemon handled most returns; Tanook Hines and Trent Mosley are candidates to take over those duties. Consistency in the kicking game and field position will be key in close Big Ten contests.
USC has built roster depth through homegrown development and top-tier recruiting, particularly on both lines of scrimmage. The team is less reliant on plug-and-play transfers and more on players who have grown in the system. An opposing Big Ten assistant noted that the Trojans are hoarding big bodies and could have freshmen starting on the offensive line. This depth should help USC weather injuries and compete in a deep conference where being fifth could still mean a playoff berth.
USC Trojans is 0-0 against the spread in the 2026 season.
USC Trojans holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +17.3, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
USC Trojans's home field advantage rating is 3.1 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
USC Trojans travels 16,323 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 8th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
USC Trojans: 0-0 overall, 0-0 ATS, power rating +17.3.
