Lincoln Riley expects high performance from USC Trojans in 2026
ESPN NCAAF • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 28, 2026, 9:10 PM
Last updated Jul 28, 2026
Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season as head coach of USC amid elevated expectations. The Trojans are poised for success with a strong roster returning, including quarterback Jayden Maiava, and the nation's top-ranked recruiting class. This season marks a significant opportunity for USC to capitalize on their returning talent and newly acquired prospects. Riley aims to lead the Trojans to great heights as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
- •Riley begins his fifth season as head coach of USC.
- •USC has many returning starters, including quarterback Jayden Maiava.
- •The Trojans possess the top-ranked recruiting class for 2026.
- 9:58 PMESPN NCAAF — USC's Riley not bothered by higher expectations
- 9:29 PMYahoo Sports — Jayden Maiava, USC embracing high expectations in Lincoln Riley's 5th season
"The expectations are not new for Lincoln Riley or Southern Cal. He faced them as a first-time head coach at Oklahoma before arriving at USC, and the Trojans have faced them nearly every year for generations. With more than a dozen contributors returning, including star quarterback Jayden Maiava, the country's top-ranked freshman class and a handful of impact transfers, a lot of the pieces that were missing during the first few years of Riley's tenure have now fallen into place, on paper at least.
"Expectations are high for coach Lincoln Riley in his fifth season at USC as the Trojans return plenty of starters including quarterback Jayden Maiava, and boast the top-ranked recruiting class in the country.
Sources
External links- ESPN NCAAFJul 28, 2026, 9:58 PMUSC's Riley not bothered by higher expectations
Expectations are high for coach Lincoln Riley in his fifth season at USC as the Trojans return plenty of starters including quarterback Jayden Maiava, and boast the top-ranked recruiting class in the country.
- Yahoo SportsJul 28, 2026, 9:29 PMJayden Maiava, USC embracing high expectations in Lincoln Riley's 5th season
The expectations are not new for Lincoln Riley or Southern Cal. He faced them as a first-time head coach at Oklahoma before arriving at USC, and the Trojans have faced them nearly every year for generations. With more than a dozen contributors returning, including star quarterback Jayden Maiava, the country's top-ranked freshman class and a handful of impact transfers, a lot of the pieces that were missing during the first few years of Riley's tenure have now fallen into place, on paper at least.
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