Calm, confident and loaded: Why Lincoln Riley believes USC has window to win big in 2026 season
Lincoln Riley, head coach of USC, expresses confidence in the team's potential for success in the upcoming 2026 season. After a challenging few years, he believes the program has made significant strides in talent acquisition and player development. With a strong returning roster and a top recruiting class, Riley feels USC is ready to compete for a Big Ten title.
- ▪Lincoln Riley is entering his fifth season as USC's head coach and feels more confident than in previous years.
- ▪USC had a successful 2025 season, achieving nine wins and signing the top high school recruiting class in the nation.
- ▪The Trojans return 15 starters, including quarterback Jayden Maiava, who had a standout season last year.
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Calm, confident and loaded: Why Lincoln Riley believes USC has window to win big in 2026 season After a hard reset and hard-earned lessons over the past several years, USC's coach believes the Trojans are finally built to win now By Brandon Marcello May 19, 2026 at 10:22 am ET • 7 min read Getty Images RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. -- Lincoln Riley leaned back in a boardroom chair at the Terranea Resort along the coastal bluffs in Southern California, the Pacific Ocean stretched out in front of him, relaxed and reflective four months before his fifth season as USC's head coach.
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