The USC Trojans have landed the No.1 recruiting class in the country for 2026, indicating their intent to return to the pinnacle of college football.
The storied Southern California program has flattered to deceive in recent seasons after dominating college football in the 2000s with Pete Carroll at the helm and a star-studded offense featuring Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, winning national championships in 2003 and 2004.
Lincoln Riley and USC Building for a National Championship
The high-profile hire of former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley and transfer of future No.1 overall NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams was meant to be a step forward, but while Williams won the 2022 Heisman trophy, USC has thus far failed to deliver.
Riley enters his fourth season in Los Angeles with a 26-14 record, and the Trojans are determined to surround their head coach with the talent he needs to bring success.
The Trojans are investing in a new $200 million performance center, which is due to open by summer 2026. They need top recruits to be competitive in the Big Ten and college football playoff picture.
Securing new general manager Chad Bowden from Notre Dame was a critical piece of the puzzle to return USC to the forefront of college football recruitment in Southern California.
Speaking to USC Athletics, the new GM signaled his intent to furnish Riley with the talent he needs: “We are not going to take a backseat to any program in the country. We are going to be aggressive, thoughtful, and any time that someone recruits against us, they’re going to know they’re in for a fight.”
Riley has been making headlines by winning commitments from several top-100 recruits nationally, including five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Ga., and several four-star recruits, including defensive lineman Jaimeon Winfield from Richardson, Texas, quarterback Jonas Williams from New Lenox, Il., and offensive lineman Esun Tafa from Draper, Utah, who picked the Trojans over home-state Utah.
Yet the battle to land the best high school players starts at home. On3’s J.D. Pickell added, “This is what it takes for USC. If you want to compete at the highest level, it starts at home. If you win Southern California, you have enough talent to go compete for a national championship.”
Of USC’s 14 commits, eight are from the Southern California area, including highly touted four-star recruits receiver Trent Mosley, landed ahead of Notre Dame and Stanford, defensive lineman Simote Katoanga and defensive backs RJ Sermons and Brandon Lockhart. Recruiting and retaining premium local talent is a big focus for Riley and the Trojans.
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New GM Bowden said: “I think the ’26 class is the best class California has had in two decades.” Two decades ago, USC was winning national championships. The success in recruiting and developing this No.1 ranked class could determine whether Riley and USC are ready to return to the summit of college football and win a national championship.
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