USC Aims High in 2026 with Maiava Back | USC Trojans Football News

USC leaps into the top 13 of ESPN’s 2026 Football Power Index, fourth in the Big Ten behind Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana — but the Trojans are hungry for their first College Football Playoff appearance. With returning star QB Jayden Maiava and the arrival of defensive guru Gary Patterson (TCU’s championship architect), the hype is real. They’ve also landed the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, with elite freshmen like Luke Wafle and Mark Bowman poised to make an impact. But don’t get too comfortable — USC’s playoff odds sit at +240, and they’ll face all three higher-ranked Big Ten teams, including home games against Oregon and Ohio State. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/583ea1a9a6e53023