USC Trojans Football's Projected 2026 Win Total Revealed

Vegas oddsmakers set the Trojans' win total at 8.5 games for the 2026 season.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ahead of what will be a pivotal fifth year for coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans, Vegas oddsmakers have released their early win total projections for the 2026 college football season. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Trojans' win total for the 2026 season is set at 8.5 games, which could result in another disappointing season for USC if the projection comes true.

Why it matters

With expectations to reach the College Football Playoff, winning at most nine games likely won't be enough for the Trojans to earn a spot in the playoff, resulting in yet another disappointing season that begins with championship aspirations for USC.

The details

The four teams with higher win totals than USC are opponents on the Trojans' 2026 schedule, including the Penn State Nittany Lions (9.5), Ohio State Buckeyes (9.5), Indiana Hoosiers (10.5), and Oregon Ducks (10.5). Last season, the Trojans finished with a 9-4 overall record, with all three of their regular-season losses coming on the road against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Oregon Ducks.

  • The 2026 college football season will be a pivotal fifth year for coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans.

The players

Lincoln Riley

The head coach of the USC Trojans football team.

Jayden Maiava

The starting quarterback for the USC Trojans football team.

Gary Patterson

The new defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans football team, joining after previously being the head coach at TCU.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Trojans will have to overcome the obstacle of winning a road game, which has been extremely difficult to climb in the four years of Riley's tenure as coach. The Oct. 10 matchup against Penn State, which could be the Nittany Lions' annual whiteout game at Beaver Stadium, will be an early indication of whether Riley's USC group is up to the task to win a game on the road.

The takeaway

This projection highlights the challenges the USC Trojans face in meeting their championship aspirations, as they must navigate a tough schedule with several opponents projected to have higher win totals. The Trojans' ability to win on the road and improve their defense will be crucial factors in determining whether they can exceed this win total projection and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.