USC Football: 2025 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction
Lincoln Riley's fourth season at USC and second in the Big Ten is critical for a program that hasn't tasted the College Football Playoff. Riley likes the development of both lines and quarterback Jayden Maiava's potential with potentially elite wideouts in Lemon and Lane. After going 1-4 on the road in 2024, USC faces difficult trips to Oregon, Notre Dame, Illinois and Nebraska. The Trojans also must fare better in close games.
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[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
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USC 2025 Season Preview and Prediction
Previewing USC's Offense for 2025
Head coach Lincoln Riley wants to build at the line of scrimmage and has an offensive front with several homegrown prospects (Elijah Paige, Alani Noa) mixed with transfers (J'Onre Reed, DJ Wingfield). Paige earned Freshman All-America honors in 2024, while Wingfield's versatility and intelligence have stood out to Riley.
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Quarterback Jayden Maiava went 3-1 after replacing Miller Moss and went through the offseason as the clear-cut starter. Riley saw 'a lot of tremendous plays' from Maiava in 2024 and now wants to see the junior balance aggressiveness with ball security.
He will have two gifted targets in junior wide receivers Makai Lemon (764 receiving yards) and Ja'Kobi Lane (12 touchdowns). Boise State transfer Prince Strachan will also be part of the wideout rotation. Lake McRee once again leads the tight ends.
After two successful SEC transfers at running back (MarShawn Lloyd, Woody Marks), USC turns to one of its own in Bryan Jackson, who shined in the bowl win against Texas A&M. New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders and junior-college transfer Waymond Jordan round out the group.
Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025
USC QB Jayden Maiava | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Previewing USC's Defense for 2025
USC has gotten much bigger along the line, which Riley expects to be a team strength. There's a good veteran core in Devan Thompkins, Braylan Shelby and Anthony Lucas, intriguing transfers like Keeshawn Silver and a splashy recruit in Jahkeem Stewart. 'Across the board, interior, on the edge, the size, the strength, just the quality of depth and competition, you definitely feel that,' Riley says.
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Eric Gentry returns to lead the linebackers after concussions forced him to redshirt in 2024. First-year linebackers coach Rob Ryan will oversee a group that includes promising sophomore Desman Stephens II.
The secondary has some question marks outside of safety Kamari Ramsey, but transfers DJ Harvey (San José State) and Bishop Fitzgerald (NC State) will be factors.
Trojans coach Lincoln Riley | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Previewing USC's Specialists for 2025
USC will have a new kicker in Caden Chittenden, a Freshman All-American at UNLV, and a new punter in Sam Johnson, who replaces Ray Guy Award winner Eddie Czaplicki. Lemon handled kickoff returns in 2024 and might take over punt returns.
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National Ranking: 34
More Big Ten team previews:
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State
Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin
Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions
Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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