Trojans’ fans, it’s been a rough ride lately. The 6-6 season, the horrors of the transfer portal, and whispers of the great x4 Big 12 winner and USC Trojans’ man-in-charge Lincoln Riley’s golden touch losing its sheen. But just when it seemed like hope was slipping through the Coliseum gates, USC dropped some news big enough to jolt the Trojans’ faithful back to life, or for the very least, to still ‘Fight On’. The kind of news that makes you sit up and wonder: is this the spark to reignite Riley’s offensive wizardry?

Let the curtains down, and present to you Eli Sanders, the game-changer the Trojans didn’t know they needed. Fresh off a season at New Mexico Lobos where he gashed defenses for 1,063 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, Sanders is bringing his electric play-style back to Cali. After turning down offers from Arkansas, Michigan State, and Arizona, Sanders chose USC, citing the family atmosphere and proximity to his Oceanside roots. “Coach Lincoln Riley, coach Anthony Jones Jr. and the entire staff just made the whole experience at USC awesome,” Sanders told 247Sports. “The offense is a great fit for me; I feel very comfortable running counter, going either inside or outside zone. It’s perfectly fitted for my skill set.”

The Trojans’ offense has always been about firepower, and Sanders might just be the match to light it up again. With his blend of speed, vision, and versatility, he fits seamlessly into Riley’s schematics. A trusted USC insider broke it down perfectly: “You got a guy like Eli Sanders who I believe is going to be that guy. He really kind of, you know, has a similar style and build to a guy like Quinten Joyner, and I think USC’s absolutely able to move and groove with them.” Sanders’ ability to bounce outside and turn a routine carry into a highlight reel could be the X-factor Lincoln Riley needs, desperately.

The timing couldn’t be better for last month’s biggest flip from Texas A&M, who they are set to play in the LV Bowl on Dec. 28th, Husan Longstreet. USC’s highly-touted 5-Star 2025 QB. Longstreet, dubbed the quarterback with the “strongest arm” by On3’s Charles Power, is bringing flamethrower energy to the Trojans’ offense. Adding Sanders to the backfield means Longstreet will have a reliable, dynamic weapon to misuse one of the country’s most explosive power backs. With defenses forced to respect Sanders’ ground game, Longstreet will have the freedom to unleash that cannon of an arm. This one-two punch could redefine USC’s offensive identity heading into the B1G and save one of the biggest brands in the league.

With an immediate effect, he’s got to link with Junior, Miller Moss who has been the QB1 since the beginning of the season. Sanders’ journey to USC isn’t just a story of talent—it’s also about resilience. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Sanders didn’t get going this fall until the middle of the season for the Lobos. After starting his college career as a 4-Star recruit at Iowa State, Sanders worked his way up, proving himself every step of the way.

Now, it will be up to Lincoln Riley and the rest of the coaching staff to unlock these tools and help them become the best players they can be. Because Sanders has given his final verdict, “This is my last year of college football, so I wanted to play on a big stage in a great environment on a team that’s very successful with a very good head coach,”. Funny cause it was the last for so many others and who knows probably it might be the last for the coach too.

Lincoln Riley watches the great Trojan’s exodus

The USC Trojans are reeling after a staggering 19 players from their 2024 roster have bolted for the transfer portal just nine days into the window. For a program with 11 national titles under its belt, this kind of exodus feels, well, un-Trojan-like. Not good at all for their NIL which seems to fall behind. And here’s the kicker: there’s no head coaching shakeup to blame—Lincoln Riley is still at the helm. So, what gives?

Among the departures is Quinten Joyner, the running back many hoped would step into Woody Marks’ shoes next season. Instead, Joyner opted to test his luck elsewhere, leaving the Trojans scrambling. Sure, landing a similar RB like Joyner in Eli Sanders was a relief, but with just one season of eligibility left, how much of a long-term solution is he?

The exodus isn’t just about numbers—it’s the roles these players were set to fill. Many of them were poised for major contributions, and yet they’ve decided to move on. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a program of USC’s stature. The aura of the Trojans, once the envy of college football, seems to be losing its shine.

Can Riley stop the bleeding and restore order in the land of Troy?