Lincoln Riley on USC's No. 1 Recruiting Class: 'They Want to Win Championships Here'
USC has secured the top-ranked recruiting class in the country for the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. This achievement marks the first time since 2006 that USC has claimed the top spot in the rankings. Head coach Lincoln Riley sees this as a significant step in the program's journey back to the pinnacle of college football.
In an interview with On3's J.D. PicKell on 'The Hard Count,' Riley emphasized the collective effort and shared vision behind this success. He stated, 'It's an example of what we're building, it's an example of these people all believing in this vision, believing in the direction of USC football.'
Despite late challenges from Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon, USC held firm, thanks to a robust 35-man class featuring 22 blue-chip signees. The class includes a significant number of Golden State natives, with 20 of the 35 signees having played their final year of high school football in California. Among them are five-star tight end Mark Bowman and three other top-100 prospects.
Riley and his staff prioritized local targets, but their reach extended beyond state lines. The class represents ten different states, with Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and Colorado having multiple representatives. Riley noted, 'To see that many guys, whether it be — obviously so much of the class was centered here in Southern California, we were obviously able to go get some guys outside of our state lines at a few of the key positions we think are gonna be great Trojans as well.'
What sets this class apart is the early arrival of many signees, with over 30 already on campus for spring ball. Riley expressed enthusiasm about the potential impact of these newcomers, stating, 'I think the ability to not just recruit and sign these guys, but to get them here, to develop them and to get these guys ready to contribute to this football program right now, was really important to us and I think it’s very key going forward.'
The class is indeed loaded with talent, including five-star EDGE Luke Wafle from New Jersey, who finished as the No. 1 recruit in the Rivals300. Jamieon Winfield, a five-star defensive lineman from Texas, and Boobie Feaster, a four-star wide receiver, are also part of the class. Twelve signees in the class are top-10 recruits at their respective positions.
Riley is excited about the potential synergy between these newcomers and the returning talent. He believes this group has the potential to achieve greatness together, stating, 'They want to do it for USC, they want to win championships here, they want to do it together. That was really the main thing that drove this class as it started coming together.' Now, the challenge is to unite these talented individuals and create a cohesive and championship-winning team.
