GUARANTEED: USC's Playoff Ticket Was Punched — Lincoln Riley Faces New Expectations To Win

USC Football got a major boost as the NCAA’s playoff expansion virtually guarantees Lincoln Riley’s squad an annual ticket to the College Football Playoff. Is reaching the postseason no longer enough—will Riley now be judged by deep playoff runs? Marc Kulkin and Chris Trevino debate how this shift changes expectations, what it means for high-profile programs, and how coaching contracts and recruiting priorities might evolve. Recruiting takes center stage as USC’s 2027 class nears completion, with discussions on key targets like Gavin Williams and Drew Fielder. The hosts break down positional needs, recent reclassifications, and whether USC’s defensive upgrades under Gary Patterson and Mike Ekeler will be the difference-maker. Plus: which running back, King Miller or Waymond Jordan, will claim the starting role, and can the Trojans edge out rivals like UCLA in recruiting rankings? Don’t miss this sharp analysis of USC’s playoff future and roster strategy. #USCTrojans #USCFootball #USCRecruiting #AlifeletiTuihalamaka #RoyeOliver #MakaiBrown #IsiahVandermade #MarcusFakatou #JamieonWinfield #LukeWafle #NCAA #LincolnRiley #KingMiller #WaymondJordan #Jayden Maiava #OhioState #Oregon, #BigTenfootball #USCrecruiting  #Collegefootballplayoffs Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonusc.supercast.com/  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) LISTEN: APPLE: https://apple.co/3Aveb9o SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3Reye1r GOOGLE: https://bit.ly/3bHmlAT Follow Marc! TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MarcKulkinCaIt Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.