As head coach Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season with USC, the expectation is for Riley to lead USC to the College Football Playoffs next season. Riley and the Trojans have come close to reaching the playoffs but have fallen short every season.

USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen said the expectation has always been to win a national championship, and that it remains the expectation going into the 2026 season.

“The expectation has always been the same. That’s the thing, that’s the reason why I came here, is that the standard is high. We do expect to make the playoff. We do expect to have a championship run. We do expect to be competing for championships every single year.

“I think that’s what’s awesome about USC, is that that’s what we all expect of it. And I know that I’m not the only one that expects that. I know our fans expect that. I know that he expects that. And so I really like this team. I really like the kids that we brought in. I love the returners. I love the leadership of this team,” Cohen said, per the Los Angeles Times.

Cohen Believes USC Has A Strong Program Heading Into New Season

USC is bringing in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class of 2026. It also some of its top starters from last season like quarterback Jayden Maiava returning next season.

The Trojans also hired Chad Bowden as general manager in January 2025, and Cohen said he has helped transform the program.

“We’ve got some really outstanding older young men in this program that get it, that have been through a lot and really care about this place and this program. The young guys are awesome. They’re really challenging the older guys. So I feel really good about the talent level of this team, and I feel really good about what Lincoln’s done. I think with this staff, I think we have a highly competitive staff. I think we have a really experienced staff.

“And then you can’t dismiss what Chad’s accomplished. You know? I think that that’s been the benefit of bringing in not just Chad, but an entire front office staff, taking the pressure off of Lincoln, taking the pressure off of the other coaches so that they can be at their best. I mean, he’s been really energized about that and really focused on taking the strengths that he has. So yeah, the expectation, I mean, we haven’t been shy about that. We expect to win, and I, I feel confident that we’re going to,” Cohen said, per the Los Angeles Times.

USC will open the new season against San Jose State on Aug. 29 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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