Aug. 27, 2026, 4:03 a.m. PT
USC’s 2026 season opener is now just two days away! On Wednesday evening, the Trojans released their first depth chart of the 2026 season ahead of the matchup with San Jose State. What were the most notable parts of the depth chart?
Here are a few key takeaways:
Youth movement Four members of USC’s highly-touted 2026 recruiting class will start immediately for the Trojans. Clearly, head coach Lincoln Riley is not afraid to play his young players. Freshmen receivers Of those four true freshmen, three are on offense: wide receivers Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, as well as tight end Mark Bowman. Expect the newcomers to play a prominent role in USC’s passing attack this fall.
Notable omissions Perhaps just as notable as who was listed on the depth chart was who was not. Three rather notable omissions were wide receiver Terrell Anderson and defensive linemen Braylan Shelby and Jahkeem Stewart. While Stewart has a confirmed injury and will not play against San Jose State this week, it is unclear if Anderson and Shelby are also injured, or if they were left off for other reasons.
Surprise kicker decision Last year, Ryon Sayeri set the USC record for most field goals made in a single season. However, Sayeri will not be the team’s starting kicker this year, as he was surprisingly beaten out by Caden Chittenden. Sayeri will, however, still handle kickoffs for the Trojans. Backup QB still not determined As expected, Jayden Maiava will start at quarterback. However, the backup is listed as either Sam Huard or Jonas Williams, suggesting that their competition for the No. 2 role has not yet been decided.
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