USC opponents Ohio State and Oregon are 1 and 2 in preseason poll
The difficulty of USC's 2026 football schedule was underscored by the release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll
USC football faces a demanding schedule, as evidenced by the release of the preseason 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll. Notably, Ohio State and Oregon, ranked 1 and 2 respectively, will be among the teams the Trojans confront this fall. These two institutions also head the nation's list. Furthermore, defending national champion Indiana holds the third spot in the rankings.
This information highlights the formidable challenge USC will encounter and explains why the team's journey to the College Football Playoff remains arduous, despite the roster generally being considered superior to the previous year. In 2025, USC was fortunate, not playing Ohio State or Indiana, both of which eventually met in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Both teams reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, with Indiana ultimately winning the championship. USC managed to secure a 9-3 record that year, despite losing to Illinois, a game often remembered as the most difficult and consequential defeat of the season. The higher degree of difficulty on USC's 2026 schedule might lead to a similar outcome as in 2025, even if the team plays better football.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
