Transfer Portal - USC Trojans On SI - Sports Illustrated

Transfer Portal

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Following their Alamo Bowl matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs, the USC Trojans will enter the offseason, looking to improve their roster through the transfer portal. How will USC approach the transfer portal, and what are its biggest needs?

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Football

Following their Alamo Bowl matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs, the USC Trojans will enter the offseason, looking to improve their roster through the transfer portal. How will USC approach the transfer portal, and what are its biggest needs?

Transfer Portal

Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches from the sidelines against the Missouri State Bears in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans have drawn some attention this month with the announcement of re-signings for its returning players. NIL and revenue-sharing are at the center of college football, and the Trojans are leaning into the new era of college football.

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

Football

TCU Horned Frogs starting quarterback Josh Hoover will miss the Alamo Bowl after recently entering his name in the transfer portal. His absence could give the USC Trojans an advantage in the Alamo Bowl matchup. Who is likely to start in Hoover's place?

Oct 14, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks on his headset in the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans lose defensive lineman Devan Thompkins to the transfer portal as the Oregon Ducks emerge as a serious contender. With a Big Ten rival surprisingly in play, USC now turns to its top recruiting class and the portal to reload up front.

Sep 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Football

Since the announcement of several USC Trojans planning to enter the transfer portal or re-signing for next season, some position groups are starting to mold for 2026. For quarterback Husan Longstreet, the future still remains uncertain.

Feb 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Eric Musselman reacts during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Basketball

USC Trojans star transfer guard Rodney Rice will undergo surgery on his shoulder injury and miss the remainder of the season. How big a loss is this for the Trojans, and what's next for USC moving forward?

Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) carries the ball against the Missouri State Bears in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Football

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava has elected to bypass the NFL Draft and return to school for his final season. So, what does that mean for former five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet moving forward, in coach Lincoln Riley's offense?

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans tight end Walker Lyons (85) carries the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Football

USC Trojans sophomore tight end Walker Lyons will enter the transfer portal, he announced on Wednesday. So, what does the Trojans tight end room look like for the upcoming bowl game against TCU and heading into next season?

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Football

USC Trojans defensive lineman Devan Thompkins plans to enter the transfer portal after starting all 12 games in 2025. The veteran tackle leaves a leadership void up front as the Trojans prepare for a youth-heavy defensive line in 2026.

Nov 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans are in a transitional period of sending players off to the NFL Draft or the transfer, and those who chose to return for the 2026 season. As of Monday, Dec. 15, USC has officially re-signed 11 players.

Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Football

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava made his intentions to return to USC known on Tuesday. Having the redshirt junior back for another season is massive for the Trojans, but how will it affect the rest of the roster will the transfer portal looming.

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans announced defensive end Braylan Shelby is re-signing with the team for the 2026 season. Shelby will be entering his senior season, and his reason for returning for another year reveals the strength of USC's team culture.

Sep 1, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the first half against the LSU Tigers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans are set to add Oklahoma State Cowboys transfer Carrington Pierce to the secondary once the portal officially opens. Carrington will be joining his brother Christian as the Trojans make their first portal move.

Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander (90) gestures during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium.

Football

Former USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander announced his return to the Oregon Ducks for the 2026 season, forgoing the NFL Draft. After playing a pivotal role in the Ducks' 42-27 win over the Trojans this season, USC has a chance at revenge

Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn speaks to the media after USC Fall Camp.

Football

The USC Trojans' defense didn't live up to expectations in 2025. With some key additions and impact signees, the Trojans' defense will look a lot different during the 2026 season. Here are three reasons they will undergo a transformation this offseason.

Nov 26, 2025; Lahaina, HI, USA; USC Trojans guard Chad Baker-Mazara (4) reacts after the Trojans defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils in the championship match at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

Basketball

USC Trojans star guard Chad Baker-Mazara is off to a historic start to the season. With the Trojans posting a 9-1 record on the season, how can Baker-Mazara impact the team's success and make them one of the most underrated teams in the Big Ten?

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

Football

The USC Trojans will enter next season with high expectations to reach the College Football Playoff in its fifth season under coach Lincoln Riley. To accomplish those goals, the Trojans should consider these top transfers this offseason.

Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) and Georgia running back Josh McCray (2) after getting a win in a NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Georgia won 35-14.

Football

Former USC Trojans star Zachariah Branch is breaking out with the Georgia Bulldogs as he closes in on a single season receptions record and rises on the 2026 NFL Draft board showing the potential USC once hoped to fully unlock.

Nov 22, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Football

Michigan dropped a bombshell on the college football world Wednesday when they announced they were firing head coach Sherrone Moore with cause. With Michigan scrambling to determine what's next, how can USC take advantage of what's happening in Ann Arb

USC Trojans Transfer Portal Lincoln Riley Bryan Jackson DJ Jordan Matai Togoa'i Recruiting Running Back Wide Receiver Big Ten

Football

The college football transfer portal is underway and coach Lincoln Riley's team has already been affected by it. Here are the players that have entered the transfer portal from USC's 2025 team ahead of their Alamo Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs.

Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley celebrates after kicker Ryon Sayeri (48) hit a 54-yard field goal in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Football

The No. 16 USC Trojans posted a nine-win regular season to close out coach Lincoln Riley's fourth season as head coach. In a season that featured breakout stars and dominant top-25 wins, who were the Trojans MVP's this regular season?

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans will need to make some big decisions with the transfer portal window opening up on Jan. 2. Here are the Trojans' three biggest needs heading into the offseason that they must address via the transfer portal.

Mar 1, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Eric Musselman reacts to the action in the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Football

The USC Trojans men's basketball team earned a bounce-back 94-81 road win over the San Diego Toreros. After a sluggish start to the game, the Trojans' offense came alive in the second half. Here are the biggest takeaways from the win.

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

Football

The USC Trojans dominated in recruiting, now looking to add to the roster through the NCAA Transfer Portal. USC is reportedly trending towards landing Oklahoma State Cowboys transfer Carrington Pierce, and his athleticism would be a big addition

Feb 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Eric Musselman reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Basketball

The No. 24 USC Trojans opened the season on the right foot, staying undefeated until their Big Ten home opener loss to Washington. Before the loss, analysts had already taken notice of USC’s hot start in a recent power rankings.