USC football cannot be considered a top-five Big Ten football program if we are focusing specifically on recent results. Either in a two-year window or a five-year window, USC falls short. If we are talking about all-time results, it’s a completely different story, but USC can’t be ranked among the top five programs in the current Big Ten. The Trojans will face four of the top five Big Ten programs this season, according to USA TODAY Sports’ recent rankings.
Penn State is No. 5, ahead of USC at No. 7. USA TODAY wrote, “The program was in crisis after NCAA sanctions related to the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Bill O’Brien set the foundation and James Franklin did the heavy lifting to get the Nittany Lions back into the elite of college football. After failing to land a title under Franklin, Penn State will reset under Matt Campbell. A heavy influx of Iowa State transfers will make Penn State difficult to predict heading into 2026, though a friendly schedule could yield around seven to nine wins.”
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USC might be better than Penn State this year. In fact, the Trojans should be better. They ought to beat the Nittany Lions in the teams’ 2026 meeting. However, in terms of recent achievements, Penn State — with a College Football Playoff semifinal berth and a 2024 Big Ten Championship Game appearance — has undeniably done more than USC has over the past five years. It’s time for the Trojans to change the math and the reality in the Big Ten.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football plays four of top five Big Ten programs in 2026 season
