GM Chad Bowden sees history repeating itself at USC, talks Trojans' process in winning another title

USC’s new General Manager Chad Bowden played a huge part in helping Notre Dame construct a roster that made it all the way to the National Title game.

The mission with the Trojans is to help Lincoln Riley and his staff go that one step further.

“History always likes to repeat itself and that’s a big reason why I came to USC,” the 31-year old Bowden told On3. “I understand the history and success sustained under Pete Carroll’s tenure. I know that’s what we’re going to be able to do here with Coach Riley at the helm.

“I look at what’s been done in the past to help prepare for the future. I look at those teams and what they were able to acquire, where they were from, state, region. I look at every single detail that’s been before us and that’s going to help us build a team to get back to those days. We need to do that. I did the same thing at Notre Dame.

“You look at the Notre Dame team that won a National Championship in 1988,” Bowden continued. “They had three guys that ran for over 800 yards. Tony Rice and the two running backs, they had a three-headed monster. Fast forward to last year with Riley Leonard, (Jadarian) Price and Jeremiyah Love. You have to look at the past. It likes to rewrite itself and that’s what we’re going to do.”

USC building a top class in 2026

USC is ripping and roaring on the recruiting trail in this 2026 class and Bowden quickly made his presence felt helping the Trojans flip prized quarterback recruit Jonas Williams from rival Oregon.

“He’s just honest,” Williams said. “And he knows what he wants. He’s going to try his hardest to go get what he wants. Obviously we’re trying to have the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and we’re going to try our best to go out there and get the ones we want.”

There is so much buzz around USC right now with the way the Trojans are recruiting and getting everything aligned within the program. Riley has always been very involved in all fronts, the program is taking a back seat to nobody when it comes to NIL opportunities and they have a coaching staff in place that has had a tremendous amount of success in the past.

“It was the alignment and direction of the program,” Bowden said of what led him to making the change. “How they saw the new era of college athletics. How they want to attack it. I think we’re going to be above everyone else because of the way we’re going to handle things with rev share and I think we’re going to be the most ready of anyone in the country. I think we’re going to have the best plan and process to execute and not only have a great class but one of the best teams in college football year in and year out.”

Riley, Bowden and this Trojans staff have their quarterback in 2026 and they’ve been stacking more championship-level prospects in all three levels of the defense so far including linebacker Xavier Griffin, cornerbacks RJ Sermons and Brandon Lockhart and defensive linemen Jaimeon Winfield and Simote Katoanga.

Trojans in the mix for top recruits

The On3 Industry’s No. 1 cornerback Brandon Arrington is back on campus Tuesday. USC is near the top for the No. 5 cornerback in the land Davon Benjamin. The Trojans are grabbing momentum with the No. 2 tight end in the country Mark Bowman. It stands well right now with the No. 4 linebacker in America Talanoa Ili along with four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui who is currently a verbal to Oregon. USC has the momentum with Topui. Four-star running back Deshonne Redeaux is trending heavily towards the program.

Another Oregon commit in the nation’s No. 3 offensive tackle Kodi Greene, local cornerback Havon Finney Jr., cornerback Elbert Hill, athlete Jalen Lott and offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe are a few other touted guys USC has a great chance to sign. They’ll keep chipping away on guys like five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr.

“If you look at what Coach Riley has assembled as far as a staff and players already here, I think this place is so close,” Bowden said. “I’m fired up and feel like I can enhance it a little bit more to get back on top.

“We have everything that a young person could want from it’s a world-class education that competes with Ivy League schools. It’s a place you can win a National Championship at. We play in the best conference in the country. We live in a great city. Has the No. 1 market in the country. We have 72 and sunny every day. We have things to do outside of football. We have connections and a network and real-world jobs these kids will experience while they’re here doing internships. These are jobs they can aquirre why here at USC and then set them up for life. There is not one thing USC does not cover and that’s why the opportunity to come to USC was too great to pass up.

“If you look at what we have here, there is no reason why kids shouldn’t choose USC.”

Still and old-school philosphy on the trail as well

While USC will be armed on the NIL front, Bowden says it’s still old-school recruiting that gets it done. Riley is heavily involved and he has a staff of great on-field recruiters like defensive line coaches Eric Henderson and Shaun Nua, receivers coach Dennis Simmons, defensive back coaches Doug Belk and Trovon Reed and running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr. to name a few.

“Real relationships with the coaches and personnel and most importantly the head coach,” Bowden emphasized. “That’s what it comes down to and nothing has changed. I know NIL has a piece of it but it’s not the end all be all. It’s relationship, it’s development, it’s life after football. All of that remains No. 1. We all have money. What really matters is building a culture and family and these kids and families knowing we’re going to take care of their sons, and these kids knowing we’re going to help them reach their dreams and goals and aspirations in life.”

And along the way, bring back that National Title to USC.