USC Trojans Are Big Transfer Portal Winners

The USC Trojans were able to retain most of their starters from this past season and acquired a couple of key pieces through the transfer portal to elevate their roster. Here's why the Trojans are winners of this season's transfer portal cycle.

Sep 10, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks out of the tunnel for warmups before the start of the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans don’t have the deepest 2026 transfer portal class, but it is filled with players who can contribute right away. After signing 35 players in their 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans didn’t have to sign a lot of players through the portal like seasons prior.

Because they were able to be selective with which transfers they brought in, USC can consider themselves a winner of this offseason’s transfer portal cycle. 

Quality, not quantity

Nov 7, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

As things currently stand, USC has eight transfer portal signees. It’s on track to be the lowest number of players the Trojans have brought in through the portal since coach Lincoln Riley arrived.

Since the Trojans signed a huge 2026 recruiting class, Riley and general manager Chad Bowden were able to navigate the portal to find players that seamlessly fit into their plans for next season. 

During previous offseasons, USC was forced to take on larger transfer classes because of roster turnover. This year, the Trojans were able to retain a large amount of key contributors from this past season on top of their large recruiting class. 

Since the Trojans didn’t need to bring in a lot of transfers, they went out for quality players that will make an impact on the field. 

Finding a need and filling it

Iowa State defensive back Jontez Williams stands for a portrait during Iowa State football media day at Jack Trice Stadium on July 25, 2025, in Ames. | Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

USC didn’t have many pressing needs as a result of retaining a majority of their starters. 

In the Trojans’ cornerback room, they weren’t lacking depth after signing six of them in their 2026 class, but were missing an experienced player who could potentially start opposite Marcelles Williams. 

That’s where Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams comes in and fills the need.  He is ranked as the No. 2 cornerback in the transfer portal according to 247Sports’ rankings. 

Williams was extremely productive in 2024 for the Cyclones, where he was named second team All-Big 12. He played in the first five games of this past season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury and was subsequently sidelined for the remainder of the year. 

Along a defensive line, USC lost a valuable starter to the transfer portal in Devan Thompkins. Similar to their defensive back class, the Trojans’ incoming defensive line class is talented and deep. Instead of bringing in multiple transfers to fill the need, USC signed only one defensive lineman in Michigan State’s Alex VanSumeren. He is listed as the No. 19 defensive lineman in the transfer portal. 

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Retention

Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts during the game against the Missouri State Bears at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The biggest way USC shaped their offseason was by retaining players they did. By making that a priority, the Trojans were able to avoid drama in the form of unexpected transfer portal departures

All in all, USC lost 22 players to the portal. Out of those 22 departures, Thompkins was the lone starter from this past season. Being able to hold onto that many key players is arguably the biggest reason why the Trojans are a winner of this year's transfer portal cycle.