Believe it or not, we are now more than halfway through USC’s 2026 regular season! The Trojans currently sit at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play heading into this Saturday’s game at Wisconsin.
So how did USC fare in the first half of the year? Here is a midseason report card for the Trojans:
Offense: A-
When Lincoln Riley is your head coach, offense will never be a major concern. That has certainly been the case for USC thus far this season. Jayden Maiava looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten, Trent Mosley is already one of the top receivers in the country as a true freshman, and the Trojans have continued to put up points at a high level.
Defense: C+
This is a tough grade to give. On one hand, the Trojans shut out Fresno State and held both Washington
and Penn State under 25 points. On the other hand, USC got torched by Oregon’s backup quarterback and gave up 35 points to a very bad Rutgers team. Gary Patterson’s defense has shown flashes of potential this season, but we still need to see more consistency from the unit.
Special Teams: B+
Other than a couple of missed field goals and a questionable onside kick decision against Penn State, there have been no major issues with this unit. New special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler deserves credit for the job that he has done this season.
Coaching: C
This is also a tough grade to give. To Lincoln Riley’s credit, he coached one of his best games in recent years in the victory over Penn State. However, that does not make up for the Oregon debacle two weeks prior, or the ugly performances against Rutgers and Penn State. The good news for Riley is that he has a chance to rewrite the story during the second half of the season.
Recruiting: A
General manager Chad Bowden and the Trojans have been recruiting at an elite level. USC’s true freshman have made an immediate impact this season, and the Trojans have another strong recruiting class lined up in the 2027 cycle.
Overall Grade: B
Overall, if you had told USC fans that the Trojans would be 6-1 heading into the Wisconsin game, they would have taken it. It has certainly not been the prettiest path to get here, but USC controls its own destiny going forward. The next five games will play a massive role in determining the future trajectory of the program.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Midseason report card for USC football
