The USC Trojans enter the season after narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff in 2025, and the expectations around USC coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans have been a mixed bag when it comes to 2026. Rece Davis Doubting USC Trojans' Playoff Chances According to ESPN's College GameDay host Rece Davis, USC is unlikely to win 10 games this season, and failing to reach that benchmark likely means that the Trojans will fail to miss the CFP for another year. Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; ESPN personality Rece Davis interviews Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images On the College GameDay Podcast , Davis and ESPN writer Dan Wetzel asked the question if the Trojans will be "good" or "great" next season. "They'll be good. They might knock off somebody that you don't expect them to. They might dump one that they probably should win. I'm going to say good.…