RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesLast season, Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans went 7-2 in the Big Ten and had a 9-4 overall record. That would be good for many teams in the Big Ten. However, with Riley and a program with USC's standards, the goal is always going to be championships. This season, with a tough Big Ten schedule, Riley and USC will have to grind it out to reach that goal.
In a recent article , Bjorn Bergstrom predicts each team's record for the 2026 season, and he has the USC Trojans remaining stuck this year. Here is what he had to say:
"With Jayden Maiava back at the quarterback spot, the Trojans have a high ceiling. But after a strong defensive performance as a whole in 2025, I’m expecting a regression on that side of the ball. USC should be in games against Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon , but just like their first two seasons in the Big Ten, they will not be able to close the deal."
Bergstrom has the Trojans going 9-4 on the season again, with losses to Wisconsin, Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. With keeping continuity at quarterback, getting better on defense with Gary Patterson as the defensive coordinator, and adding talent on the roster overall, a 9-4 season would be a disappointment. Lincoln Riley knows what is being asked of him, and he knows this team will need to break through in the Big Ten this season. 9-4 needs to be the floor for the USC Trojans, not how the season plays out.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Analyst says USC Trojans will finish 2026 with 2025's record
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