USC football is being criminally underrated with No. 14 ranking in preseason AP Top 25 Poll

USC football feels some disrespect already ahead of the 2026 season. Head coach Lincoln Riley earning a “Tier 3” coaching label by The Athletic rose as one eye-grabbing moment. But along came USC earning No. 14 in the latest preseason AP Top 25 Poll released Monday.

There are national analysts who believe 14th is a great spot for this Trojans team. However, that ranking also indicates the following: Riley lost his touch as an elite coach, and this USC team still has multiple flaws according to the college football blogosphere.

Time to weigh in on why the 2026 Trojans are criminally underrated.

USC Reloaded for Quarterback Jayden Maiava

We’re not going to start things off with Maiava’s return making a difference. Yes his presence matters here, but what also matters is who USC surrounded him with this fall.

Most scribes and fans will write off USC for losing NFL-bound wideouts Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. While understandable, USC still reloaded on the perimeter. Adding dynamic versatile deep threat Terrell Anderson from North Carolina State helps. Anderson arrives battle-tested too after facing high-caliber cornerbacks in Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore, Cal’s Nohl Williams (Kansas City Chiefs) and Clemson’s Avieon Terrell (Atlanta Falcons) before facing Big Ten foes.

That’s not all for Maiava, as he and USC are backed by the nation’s top ranked recruiting class. Prized local four-star receivers from the College Football Recruiting trail Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt arrive having starred against the best competition in California at the Trinity League.

Fellow four-star wideout from Texas Ethan “Boobie” Feaster is turning heads too in fall camp. Then there’s five-star tight end Mark Bowman adding an expandable underneath weapon for Maiava. And these guys join last season’s WR3 Tanook Hines, who’s ready to make a big leap with Lemon and Lane gone.

Maiava receives new backfield depth too outside of familiar one-two punch Waymond Jordan and King Miller. Four-star Deshonne Redeaux and Shahn Alston add speed/power into that room.

Lastly, Maiava earns the benefit of having an experienced offensive line blocking for him. This despite center Kilian O’Connor losing his season to a leg injury earlier in August.

USC Brings in Massive Defensive Addition

Landing multiple four and five-stars on defense isn’t the only major additions for this side of the field. Riley made the bold call to a past Big 12 rival to boost his unit: Gary Patterson.

The former TCU head coach ran a widely respectable 4-2-5 look that confused quarterbacks, applied pressure and created numerous ballhawks. Patterson didn’t need to recruit either, as he’s already equipped with the personnel in place to run his system.

But it starts inside with what Riley called a much deeper defensive tackle room. Patterson gains powerful veterans and nose tackle options Jamaal Jarrett and Floyd Boucard here. He then can turn loose longer options in 6-foot-5 talents Jide Abasiri and Jahkeem Stewart. Patterson can mix-and-match with these four. Yet also can turn loose fierce run-stuffer Alex VanSumerin, a Michigan State transfer.

Patterson isn’t the only notable Big 12 addition here. So is Iowa State standout Jontez Williams, who lures 10 career pass breakups over to Los Angeles. Williams can become the new Jason Verrett for Patterson and potentially rise as his own first round talent.

Why USC Feels Underrated

Yes many will argue that the Big Ten is way too deep; featuring the defending national champs Indiana and the No. 1 and No. 2 AP ranked teams representing the conference (Ohio State and Oregon, respectively).

Except USC hosts the latter two teams inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this fall. Creating the perfect storm to catapult higher from its 14th ranking. And both are two of seven different home opponents for this top 15 program.

USC’s most hostile road game likely won’t arrive until Nov. 14, when the national champions host the Trojans in Bloomington. And there’s the short road trip to Westwood for the UCLA contest, meaning USC will play eight of its 12 games close to the campus…earning them an edge in rest compared to their other foes.

The mix of high-caliber recruits, key offensive returners, the schedule makeup and now, Patterson’s presence fuel USC’s chances to finally enter the College Football Playoff race.

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