USC gains 2nd ranking bump this week

Coming off their Week 3 win over Purdue, the Trojans earned a spot in the AP Top 25. But it was another rankings jump earlier this week that should have USC fans even more excited. On Tuesday, 247Sports, one of the nation’s most respected recruiting services, bumped the Trojans up to No. 1 in the 2026 recruiting rankings. USC leapfrogged Georgia to claim the top spot and now sits at the pinnacle of the class.

USC’s move to the No. 1 spot wasn’t the result of a single splash addition, but rather a boost from recent updates by Rivals and On3. Several Trojan commits saw notable jumps in both ratings and rankings, and when those adjustments were factored into the composite, USC edged into the top spot with 304.57 points. Georgia sits just behind at 304.39, leaving the battle for the nation’s best 2026 class wide open. For now, though, the Trojans are in the driver’s seat. The class is headlined by two five-star commits in Mark Bowman and Keenyi Pepe according to Rivals and On3. Luke Wafle also received a fifth star from Rivals.

USC’s 2026 class currently sits at 32 commitments, but General Manager Chad Bowden has made it clear the program won’t repeat that volume next cycle. Bowden has publicly stated that the Trojans will likely take only about half as many recruits in the 2027 class, signaling a more selective approach moving forward.

USC is set to host Michigan State this weekend, who sits at eighth in the conference in the 2026 class.