A little less than four months lie between the beginning of May and the opening weekend of the 2026 college football season. The seemingly eternal wait is a time for college football fans and media to predict what may occur in the upcoming season. Among other forms, these predictions include general lists, top 25 rankings and College Football Playoff brackets. Ari Wasserman of On3 released a list of the programs facing the most pivotal seasons across college football in 2026. Sitting atop Wasserman's list is USC, which enters its fifth season with Lincoln Riley at the helm. There are plenty of likable aspects about the Trojans' 2026 team. For one, USC returns 15 of its 22 starters from 2025; wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane are the only departures from the offense, while the defense only replaces five of its starters from a season ago. Additionally, the Trojans boast the No. 1 recruiting class from the 2026 cycle, headlined by five-star defensive end Luke Wafle and five-star tight end Mark Bowman.…