USC Football Faces Key Challenges to Avoid Repeat of Past Seasons
As Lincoln Riley's Trojans begin their Big Ten schedule, they must address defensive inconsistencies, player rotation, offensive struggles, penalties, and personnel issues to contend.
The USC Trojans football team, under coach Lincoln Riley, is on a familiar trajectory through the early part of its season. Despite strong starts against less formidable opponents, questions and concerns from previous years are resurfacing as the team prepares to enter its Big Ten schedule. This pattern has historically prevented USC from reaching the College Football Playoff and could jeopardize Riley's position if not addressed in 2026.
Defensive Sturdiness Required
USC's defense has shown flashes of strength, particularly in its front seven, but has experienced concerning breakdowns. The team allowed 23 points in the fourth quarter against San Jose State and 14 against Louisiana. While some of these lapses occurred when backups were in the game, broader coverage issues and susceptibility to big plays before the final quarter have been noted. The defense's struggle to contain mobile quarterbacks, as seen against Louisiana's Lunch Winfield, raises questions about their ability to stop top Big Ten offenses.
Strategic Player Rotation
An ongoing issue has been managing player rotation effectively. While Riley has aimed to build depth by giving experience to backups, the drop-off in play when starters are substituted has been apparent. As conference play begins, finding the right balance between developing depth and maintaining a high level of play is crucial. Riley emphasized the importance of raising the floor of each player's performance, stating that "great players, for the most part, even their bad plays aren’t that bad." Minimizing uncharacteristic errors and consistently performing at a solid level are seen as key differentiators for successful teams.
Re-energizing the Run Game
The Trojans' run game has yet to fully find its stride, with tailback Waymond Jordan, who showed promise before an injury last season, not yet recapturing his peak form. Averaging 54 yards per game and lacking a long breakout run, Jordan is sharing carries with King Miller. While recovery from injury and sharing the load are factors, USC needs more consistent and impactful contributions from its running backs as the season progresses.
Discipline and Penalties
USC has been hampered by penalties, most notably an eight-infraction performance against Louisiana that included a roughing-the-kicker penalty that extended a scoring drive. Coach Riley acknowledged these "intolerable penalties" occurring at critical moments. The team's average of 52 penalty yards per game ranks 57th nationally, a statistic that must improve to avoid costly mistakes in tougher matchups.
Personnel on Defense
Improvements to USC's pass rush, led by Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, could be significantly boosted by the return of sophomore defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart. Stewart, a former freshman All-American, has returned to practice and is expected to make his season debut against Rutgers. Regaining his top form quickly will be important, especially with a challenging game against Oregon on the horizon.