USC takes over No. 1 class in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

A rival’s misfortune is USC‘s gain, as the Trojans now hold the No. 1 overall class in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings for the class of 2026.

Lincoln Riley and Co. entered the day at No. 2 behind Big Ten rival Oregon, but the Ducks lost a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Bott Mulitalo, dropping them back a spot and moving the Trojans No. 1.

USC is also now one of the top school for the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder, according to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, who said BYU, Utah and Washington are among the other contenders as it stands today.

The Trojans hold 11 total commitments in the cycle, the second-most of any Power 4 program. Elite linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 23 overall) and projected five-star cornerback RJ Sermons (No. 28) lead the way, but it’s a group that has as much depth as it does top-end talent.

USC recently flipped four-star quarterback Jonas Williams from the Ducks, and has pledges from other blue-chippers Brandon Lockhart, Simote Katoanga, Shahn Alston and Braeden Jones. The Trojans have also made their home state a top priority this cycle, with seven of the 11 commitments hailing from the state of California.

Trojans and Ducks will be battling for top recruits this cycle

Williams and Mulitalo are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to USC-Oregon recruiting battles in 2026.

As On3’s Steve’s Wiltfong outlined last week, there’s no shortage of prospects who have both schools in high regard. The two schools will face off on the field in late November, but there’s plenty of fighting on the trail to happen before that.

Among those is four-star linebacker Talanoa Ili, who will visit both programs this week as he looks to move closer to a decision. The trip to Eugene will be his second in as many weeks.

“My interest in Oregon continues to grow stronger,” Ili told Simmons. “They are currently the highest on my list and this visit was great.”

The Trojans are looking to keep the Orange (Calif.) Orange Lutheran for themselves, though.

“USC made an impression on me and I would say they’ve made their way up my list,” Ili said at the end of that visit. “This visit did help them. I enjoyed being there and hearing what they had to say.”