USC coach Lincoln Riley declares his team is ready to break through to the College Football Playoff in 2026, despite three-plus losses in each of his first four seasons. Riley, who guided Oklahoma to the CFP in his first four years as head coach, says the program has addressed previous issues and now possesses all necessary ingredients for playoff contention.

The Trojans addressed roster weaknesses by securing the nation's No. 1 recruiting class, including five top-35 players, after missing on key transfer portal additions that cost them high school talent. Riley also hired Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator, a move he had pursued for years, as the team prepares to move into its new on-campus football performance center this summer.

USC faces a challenging schedule with home games against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington, plus road trips to Indiana and Penn State. Riley believes his growth as a coach during his time at USC has positioned the program to navigate this gauntlet and finally reach the CFP.