Story perspectives

USC Locks No. 1 2026 Class, Hires Patterson, Targets CFP

5/19/2026

Summary

Riley Secures #1

Lincoln Riley (USC head football coach) announced USC secured the No. 1 2026 recruiting class, with five top-35 and 19 SC Next 300 players.
Riley said the team will pursue a College Football Playoff berth this season.
Riley hired former Texas Tech coach Gary Patterson as USC’s defensive coordinator.
USC will open a new on-campus performance center this summer and schedule home games against Ohio State, Oregon, Washington plus trips to Indiana and Penn State.

Summary

USC Defense Lags

USC’s 2025 defense posted 31 sacks (35th nationally) with no player over 5.5 sacks, revealing a pass-rush shortfall.
Freshman tackle Jahkeem Stewart, reclassified to 2025 and playing through a stress fracture, recorded 18 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery, earning Freshman All-American honors.
USC added five-star recruit Jaimeon Winfield and four-star Tomuhini “TomTom” Topui, both 6-3, 325-lb linemen, to bolster the front.

Summary

USC Boosts Recruiting

USC flew a helicopter to Damien High and Cathedral Catholic High, sealing safety Gavin Williams.
General manager Chad Bowden joined from Notre Dame in January 2025.
USC hired defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and safeties coach Paul Gonzales.
Recruiting director Aaron Amaama, nicknamed “Coach Dogg,” builds links with prospects such as four-star safety Ace Leutele.
USC’s NIL collectives have grown, helping attract California talent over other Power-Four programs.

Summary

USC Enters Tournament

USC baseball entered the Omaha Big Ten Tournament as the No. 4 seed with a 42-14 record and a first-round bye.
The Trojans posted a 20-10 conference record, swept Purdue, Iowa and Illinois 9-0, and could meet #1 UCLA after UCLA entered 48-6 and 28-2 in conference.
USC’s opening game begins at 7 a.m. PT on Charles Schwab Field and will air on the Big Ten Network, per beat reporter Caden Handwork.

History

Historical Context

In 2004 the USC Trojans, coached by Pete Carroll, went 13-0, held the No. 1 poll spot all season and won the Orange Bowl BCS national championship, a title later vacated by the NCAA. The unbeaten run, highlighted by Heisman winner Matt Leinart’s 55-point Orange Bowl performance, cemented a recruiting reputation that programs still try to replicate.

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Riley Secures #1

Lincoln Riley (USC head football coach) announced USC secured the No. 1 2026 recruiting class, with five top-35 and 19 SC Next 300 players.
Riley said the team will pursue a College Football Playoff berth this season.
Riley hired former Texas Tech coach Gary Patterson as USC’s defensive coordinator.
USC will open a new on-campus performance center this summer and schedule home games against Ohio State, Oregon, Washington plus trips to Indiana and Penn State.

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