USC continues to get CFP predictions as the pressure mounts on Lincoln Riley

Lincoln Riley is no stranger to the College Football Playoff. His Oklahoma teams were frequent visitors, and he knows what it takes to get a team to that level. However, Riley is still in search of his first appearance with USC.

His first season was perhaps a Caleb Williams hamstring injury away from reaching it, but that is hypothetical. The reality of the situation is that not only has Riley not been able to get USC to the CFP, but no coach has ever been able to get the legacy blue-blood program to that point in the season.

READ MORE: USC will have to live up to the endorsement it received from the preseason coaches' poll

PFF has USC on the hook for its first CFP appearance

There is hope that 2026 could be the season the Trojans finally get over the hump and Riley erases the "hot seat" label completely. One major source appears very high on that becoming a reality, as Pro Football Focus (PFF) has identified the Trojans as their No. 1 choice to finally make the CFP for the very first time.

One of the major factors highlighted by the folks at PFF is the introduction of the top-ranked 2026 recruiting class joining what is already expected to be an explosive offense.

"The Trojans have recruited at an elite level for years, culminating in the highest-ranked recruiting class in college football for 2026. This class will be inserted into what is already one of the most explosive teams in college football. USC’s 19.6% explosive pass play rate was the highest of any Power Four offense last season."

Daire Carragher, PFF

Now, of course, it is obvious that USC has some shoes to fill, especially in the wide receiver room and at other positions across the lineup. However, historically, third-year quarterbacks under Riley have been elite in almost every facet of the position, and there is no reason to believe Jayden Maiava will not continue that trend.

Additionally, the running back room stands a chance to be one of the most talented backfields Riley has ever coached, rivaling the Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine days at Oklahoma. So, while maintaining that explosive offensive rate means replacing two NFL draft picks from a season ago, the Trojans appear well-positioned to match or surpass that production.

The Trojans start their quest for the school's first-ever CFP berth on August 29 against in-state rival San José State.

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