USC Big Ten ranking in one preseason prediction model unveiled
The new offseason SP+ rankings are out. See where USC landed in this first preseason measurement of the Big Ten's 18 programs:
USC football faces a lot of uncertainties heading into the 2026 college football season and the Big Ten schedule. The Trojans have a tough road this season, playing Washington, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and Ohio State. USC will need to win three of those five tough games and then win all their other contests to achieve a 10-2 record, which is the consensus on what USC will need to make the College Football Playoff.
9-3 is unlikely to get the job done with the playoff still at 12 teams and not at 16. Preseason ratings offer a first look at where the analytics have USC and other Big Ten teams. Wolverines Wire has more: "The doldrums of the offseason are disappearing, and one of the major signs of such is the revelation of various rankings -- beyond the ones that come out the day after the national championship game.
The one that you can probably put the most stock in is that of the SP+, compiled by ESPN advanced stats guru Bill Connelly. SP+ is a predictive model, one that balances returning production, recent records, recruiting, and coaching changes. In the preseason SP+ , the Big Ten is quite top-heavy, with several teams in the top 25.
" The Wolverines Wire article notes that USC is No. 4 in the Big Ten in the SP+ preseason rankings: "Lincoln Riley changed a lot about the program after a better, but still disappointing season. Will his coaching staff changes get the Trojans back to the top?