USC's No. 1 recruiting class is another sign that the Trojans are back

The USC Trojans may enter their matchup with the Oregon Ducks as underdogs Saturday, but they remain the frontrunners to secure the nation’s top recruiting class in 2026 with just weeks away from National Signing Day.

Rivals Industry rankings, in conjunction with On3 just released what is likely their final rankings adjustment of the 2026 cycle and while there was movement amongst a majority of prospects, that movement did not shift USC off their top spot in the class.

The race for the No. 1 spot between USC and Georgia remains close, with the Trojans holding a score of 93.801 and the Bulldogs close behind at 93.555.

USC has a total of 35 commitments with 17 being ranked in the top 300. Amongst those 17 commits, four of them have received a five star rating by one of the three major recruiting outlets.

The Big Four

• Tight end Mark Bowman of Mater Dei (CA) is ranked No. 21 nationally and holds a five-star rating in the Rivals Industry Rankings.

• Offensive lineman Keenyi Pepe of IMG Academy is ranked No. 33 nationally and has earned a five-star rating from both 247Sports and ESPN.

• Cornerback Elbert Hill of Akron (OH) is ranked No. 36 nationally and holds a five-star designation from ESPN.

• Edge defender Luke Wafle of the Hun School (NJ) is ranked No. 52 nationally and is rated a five-star prospect by Rivals.

The Trojans secured many of these commitments before the season began, and their strong on-field performance has helped keep the class firmly intact. There are no signs of potential decommitments, and the only expected development in the final days leading up to National Signing Day is the possibility of the Trojans adding one more piece to the class. For the Trojans, the on-field success has been pivotal for the program’s trajectory. If they can maintain this winning momentum, the 2026 class could become one of the best in the storied history of the program.