The USC Trojans will begin the 2025 season on the outside looking in. The preseason AP Top-25 Poll left USC unranked, though head coach Lincoln Riley’s squad did earn some votes. In the Big Ten landscape, programs such as Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, and Illinois open the year ranked ahead of the Trojans.
The snub comes after a 7–6 campaign in 2024, including a 4–5 mark in Big Ten play during the program’s inaugural season in the conference. USC dropped five one-score games, often letting fourth-quarter opportunities slip away. Riley is determined to change that narrative. “I think he would say he feels like it’s his team,” Riley said of quarterback Jayden Maiava. “He knows the guys better, he knows what he’s doing as a player better… We challenged him as coaches pretty heavily. He’s responded.”
A USC Trojans Roster Poised for Growth
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Maiava, who won three of his four starts to close last season, returns with both of his top wideouts, Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon. The backfield was rebuilt with the additions of Eli Sanders from New Mexico and JUCO standout Waymond Jordan, alongside returning contributor Bryan Jackson. On defense, USC brings back its deepest front seven in recent memory, anchored by linebacker Eric Gentry’s return from injury. The Trojans also welcome elite freshman lineman Jahkeem Stewart, one of the nation’s most coveted recruits.
The coaching staff received a boost as well, with Rob Ryan joining as linebackers coach and Adrian Klemm as a defensive analyst. Both will support second-year defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who crafted one of USC’s most improved units in 2024.
A Manageable Yet Telling Schedule
The Trojans avoid both Ohio State and Penn State this season, but challenges remain. Road trips to Notre Dame (Oct. 18) and Oregon (Nov. 22) stand out, along with a September 27 meeting against Illinois. After a bye week, USC faces Michigan on Oct. 11—a rematch of last year’s tight loss to the Wolverines, now led by top recruit Bryce Underwood.
Analyst Joel Klatt sees potential if USC can flip those one-score results: “Those close losses could turn into close wins this year, and if they do, they could be a team making their very first playoff appearance.”
Fighting for Respect
In CBS Sports’ ranking of all 136 FBS programs, USC landed at No. 29, one spot behind Missouri and trailing 28 other teams, including Utah—a program that finished last year with a losing record. While the Trojans’ resume doesn’t yet demand a top-25 slot, their offseason upgrades suggest a higher ceiling.
USC opened last season with a comeback win over LSU in Las Vegas and closed it with a bowl victory over Texas A&M in the same city. If Riley’s squad can capitalize in tight games this fall, the Trojans could force their way back into national relevance—and perhaps into the playoff conversation for the first time.