Yahoo Sports college football analyst Pete Fiutak released his 2026 USC preview this week, and the headline question is simple: can Lincoln Riley finally push the Trojans into the College Football Playoff? For Oregon fans, the answer matters plenty, since USC’s biggest roadblocks last season included a road loss in Eugene.

A Better USC Team Than the Record Showed

According to Yahoo Sports, USC finished 9-4 in 2025 but was arguably better than that record suggests. Fiutak points out that USC actually ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in total offense last season, averaging 465.5 yards per game, with Oregon checking in second at roughly 13 yards behind.

USC also finished fifth nationally on third downs and near the top of the country in pass protection. Yahoo Sports notes the Trojans’ four losses came against Illinois (a late heartbreaker), Notre Dame, Oregon — both true road games — and a bowl collapse against TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

Fiutak frames it bluntly: USC has no excuses left. The talent, coaching staff, and returning experience are all in place for Riley’s group to take the next step in 2026, even if the schedule doesn’t do them many favors.

Maiava and the Offensive Pieces Return

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is back under offensive coordinator Luke Huard, and Yahoo Sports highlights that he led the Big Ten in passing yardage last season, averaging 285.5 yards per game — well ahead of Oregon’s Dante Moore, who averaged 238. Maiava also threw 24 touchdowns and ran for six more, per the preview.

Four starters return on an offensive line that Yahoo Sports says was among the best in the country in pass protection last year, paving the way for over five yards per carry on the ground. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri is singled out as the key returning piece up front for a defense that racked up 31 sacks in 2025.

Why This Still Matters for Oregon

Oregon fans don’t need reminding that USC’s 2025 campaign included a loss on the road in Eugene, one of the results Fiutak cites as evidence the Trojans belong in the “elite” conversation despite missing the Playoff. If USC’s offense is even more dangerous in 2026, as Yahoo Sports suggests, that only raises the stakes for whenever the Ducks and Trojans meet again.

Fiutak’s best-case scenario for USC is a Big Ten title and a spot in the national championship hunt, while the worst case has the Trojans settling back into also-ran status in a stacked conference. Either way, Oregon remains one of the measuring sticks Riley’s program has to clear to prove it belongs among the Big Ten’s true contenders.

Related: National Pundit’s USC Playoff Pick Hinges on Getting Past Oregon

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Oregon has been the high water mark for USC for 20 years. Nice to see they have finally come to terms with that fact.

FWIW, Pete Fiutak is the man at College Football News, not Yahoo.

I think Fiutak's call of the Trojans' biggest game coming in Week 4 against Oregon is spot on. This game against SC's biggest recruiting rival for West Coast talent is a season and program-defining game.

SC has been good in LA under Riley, but Riley is 1-6 on the road in the B1G. With a trap game at Rutgers the week before playing Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and UCLA, and home games vs. UW and Ohio State in addition to Oregon, SC going a predicted 9-3 is optimistic.

QB Maiava's two top receivers, including the Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon, are off to the NFL, as is TE Lake McRee. A lot of good freshmen are on the roster, but they're freshmen.

Does new DC Gary Patterson still have his fastball? And is SC ready to battle on both LOS?

https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/usc-football-preview-2026

Future odds have Oregon at a -5.5 favorite. One question for Oregon: Is there a kicker on the roster with the chops of Atticus Sappington? If there is, we didn't see him in the spring game.

USC Trojans On SI

Early Betting Odds Released for USC Trojans' Big Ten Show...

USC will face an early season test when Oregon makes the trip down to Los Angeles for a highly anticipated matchup on Sept. 26.  Typically, a November matchup,

The first line of the article made me decide to take it lightly. Those that follow USC football know that Riley will not be pushing USC anywhere. If they make the playoffs it will be in spite of Riley, not because of him. The only reason he remains is his unpublished contract that reportedly has a huge buyout. His incompetence has been on display for 5 years.

As for a big game....USC has several this year.......many have the Penn St game at Happy Valley as the key game. Take your choice.

IMO USC will not be able to give Oregon much of a game. At the time I'll be glad to accept 5.5 points and bet on Oregon. The reasons are too numerous to discuss. Two among several........USC does not have a legit offensive center. Running the ball against the Oregon D front will be nearly impossible. When Maiava is pressured he becomes unglued. Oregon will let the dogs loose.....and they have a lot of Dobermans. The depth is unbelievable.

If USC puts more than 24 on Oregon I'd be shocked. Meanwhile the Oregon offense should have a field day playing a defense implementing a new system that has weak to average LB's and DB's.