USC

The combination of elite young talent maturing on both sides of the ball and strategic portal additions at receiver has USC positioned for its most ambitious season yet in the Big Ten. The Trojans enter 2026 ranked 12th nationally with a +16.3 rating, powered by the nation's third-best offense at +12.9 while new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson inherits a unit grading at +3.5. Quarterback Jayden Maiava returns as the established starter, leading an attack that added North Carolina State transfer Terrell Anderson (43.9 PPA) to help offset the NFL Draft departures of receivers Makai Lemon (63.7 PPA) and Ja'Kobi Lane (54.4 PPA).

JP+ projects exactly 8.4 wins for USC in a schedule featuring home dates with Oregon and Ohio State plus a tricky road test at Indiana among the season's toughest challenges. The Trojans lost 160.6 PPA through 25 portal departures while adding just 44.0 PPA back, creating a significant talent deficit on paper that the advanced metrics suggest this young core can overcome through natural development. If Patterson's defensive system clicks early and the receiving corps jells around Anderson, USC has the offensive firepower to compete for the Big Ten title and make its first College Football Playoff appearance. If the talent drain proves too steep and the defense struggles early under new leadership, this becomes a middle-tier Big Ten season despite the offensive potential.