Home / Sports / College Football Returns: USC's Dominance and NC State's Rise
College Football Returns: USC's Dominance and NC State's Rise
28 Aug
Summary
- USC's offense has scored at least 44 points in seven season openers.
- NC State aims for the ACC Championship with a strong quarterback.
- Virginia faces rebuilding after losing key offensive players.
The 2026 college football season kicks off with Week 0, highlighting USC's dominant opening matchups. Under Lincoln Riley, the Trojans have consistently scored over 44 points against Group of Six opponents, often exceeding 50 or 60 points. This trend is attributed to their sustained offensive execution, even with backups, against weaker defenses.
USC boasts a strong returning offensive line, quarterback, and running backs, with an emphasis on integrating new receivers. San Jose State's defense, however, is in rebuild mode, with low returning production and weaknesses in the linebacker corps and secondary, suggesting a challenging start for the Spartans.
In another Week 0 contest, NC State faces Virginia. The Wolfpack are considered ACC contenders, returning quarterback CJ Bailey and running back Duke Scott. NC State's defense hopes for improvement through portal additions after a difficult 2025 season.
Virginia, coming off an ACC title game appearance, faces significant rebuilding. They have lost key offensive players, including their top quarterback, running backs, and receivers, relying on portal transfers to fill critical roles.
