LOS ANGELES — USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen and head coach Lincoln Riley have publicly affirmed expectations for a College Football Playoff berth in the 2026 season as the program undergoes structural changes and prepares to welcome the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Cohen emphasized the program’s championship standard, stating, "The expectation has always been the same. That’s the thing, that’s the reason why I came here, is that the standard is high. We do expect to make the playoff. We do expect to have a championship run. We do expect to be competing for championships every single year."
Riley, entering his fifth season as USC’s head coach in 2026, said in a podcast interview that the team’s progress is now tangible. "It’s May, right? But looking at it in May, there’s definitely a real difference. It’s tangible. It’s not just hope. The program has taken steps, not only in talent acquisition and building the roster, but there’s also teaching them to win, and the progression that comes with that." He added that USC was close to playoff contention in 2025, noting, "We were close enough last year to taste it. I mean, literally snaps away from being right in it. I know we have absolutely taken steps. Honestly, now, it’s just time to go do it. It’s time. The program’s ready for it." Riley also said, "I’m a lot better coach than at any point during the years at Oklahoma. I’ve definitely learned and grown a lot. There are a lot of things I’ve learned now that I wish I had known back then."
USC has not reached the College Football Playoff in any season under Riley through 2025. The Trojans’ 2025 campaign ended with a late loss to Illinois after leading in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Cohen credited new general manager Chad Bowden—hired in January 2025—with helping reshape the program by establishing a front office staff that reduces pressure on coaches.
The 2026 roster will include returning quarterback Jayden Maiava and feature the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. USC opens the season on August 29 against San Jose State at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The schedule includes road games at Indiana, Penn State, and Wisconsin, and home matchups against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington. The Trojans will also face UCLA in their annual rivalry game, which will feature a new head coach for the Bruins.