The 2026 college football season is almost here, and the first unofficial whistle blows Tuesday with Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. USC is right in the thick of it on Day One, ready to set the tone for what they hope is an “even better campaign”!
Riley Takes Center Stage
Get ready, because Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti gets things rolling Tuesday at 8:45 AM Pacific Time. He’s followed by a lineup of head coaches, including USC’s own Lincoln Riley. Riley is slated as the last head coach to speak, hitting the podium around 10:45 AM Pacific Time. Both Petitti’s and Riley’s press conferences will be broadcast live, so you can catch every word on the Big Ten Network.
But it’s not just the coaches talking shop. Riley himself will join the Big Ten Network studio set between 11:15 AM and noon Pacific Time. Then, a trio of USC players is lined up for interviews from 1:00 to 1:30 PM: quarterback Jayden Maiava and defensive linemen Alex VanSumeren and Jide Abasiri. That’s a serious chunk of airtime for the Trojans!
Third Time’s the Charm in the Big Ten?
This isn’t USC’s first rodeo in the Big Ten; they’re rolling into their third season in the league. Last year, they put up a solid 7-2 record in conference play, which landed them in fourth place in the standings. That’s good, but for 2026, the Trojans are openly hoping to put together an “even better campaign.” The stakes are clear: climb higher than fourth.
So, if you want to see if Riley brings that “even better campaign” energy from the jump, tune in Tuesday. This is where the talk turns into the tone for the entire year. Get hyped for some college football action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply