The USC Trojans' schedule for this upcoming fall was released on Tuesday, and it features several high-profile Big Ten matchups. But what are the toughest contest for Southern Cal next season?

The USC Trojans have hired Paul Gonzales as its new defensive backs coach, joining defensive coordinator Gary Patterson in a coaching staff makeover.

Patterson, a 65-year-old College Football Hall of Fame coach, was named USC’s next defensive coordinator Friday. While he is most known for his 24-season run at TCU, where he won six conference championships and made 17 bowl games, Patterson took to his lesser-known hobby of songwriting to commemorate the moment.

Part 6 of 7 breaking down USC’s roster as the winter transfer portal has mostly closed, with the Trojans revamping the secondary in terms of players and personnel.

USC football secured the No. 1 recruiting class of 2026 in December when it landed one five-star commit and 21 four-star commits in a 35-player commitment class. The Trojans became the first non-SEC program to clinch the top recruiting

The USC Trojans signed a historic recruiting class, and one prospect in particular was ranked the No. 1 overall recruit in the entire 2026 class.

Not really sure which of these two statements will end up being more surprising: