The 2018 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and competed as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Clay Helton.
Despite being ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll's preseason rankings, the Trojans finished the season 5–7, the program's first losing record since 2000. USC lost to both of its major rivals, UCLA and Notre Dame, in the same season for the first time since 2013, and it also lost to all other California Pac-12 schools (UCLA, California, and Stanford) in the same season for the first time since 1996. The team went 4–5 in Pac-12 play, tying Arizona for third place in the Pac-12 South Division.
On November 25, USC athletic director Lynn Swann announced that head coach Clay Helton would return in 2019 despite the disappointing season.
Personnel
Coaching staff
Roster
Returning starters
USC returns 31 starters in 2018, including 11 on offense, 13 on defense, and 5 on special teams.
Key departures include Sam Darnold (QB – 14 games), Ronald Jones II (TB – 13 games), Deontay Burnett (WR – 12 games), Steven Mitchell (WR – 7 games), Jalen Greene (WR – 5 games), Viane Talamaivao (OG – 5 games), Nico Falah (C – 14 games), Rasheem Green(DE/DT – 14 games), Josh Fatu (DT – 12 games), Uchenna Nwosu (OLB – 14 games), Jack Jones (CB – 13 games), Chris Hawkins (S – 14 games), Ykili Ross (S – 2 games).
Other departures include James Toland IV (TB), Matt Lopes (S).
Offense (11)
Defense (13)
Special teams (5)
Transfers
The Trojans lost 5 players due to transfer.
Depth chart
Depth Chart 2018
True Freshman
Double Position : *
Recruiting class
Scholarship distribution chart
/ / * Former walk-on
– 85 scholarships permitted, 81 currently allotted to players
– 78 recruited players on scholarship (Three former walk-ons)
– OT Jalen McKenzie took an advanced scholarship or "blueshirt" limiting USC's class of 2018 to 24.
Projecting Scholarship Distribution 2018
2018 NFL Draft
NFL Combine
The official list of participants for the 2018 NFL Combine included USC football players WR Deontay Burnett, QB Sam Darnold, DE Rasheem Green, RB Ronald Jones II, WR Steven Mitchell Jr. & OLB Uchenna Nwosu.
Team players drafted into the NFL
Schedule
Game summaries
UNLV
Stanford
Texas
Washington State
Arizona
Colorado
Utah
Arizona State
Oregon State
California
UCLA
Notre Dame
Rankings
Statistics
Preseason
Pac-12 Media Days
Pac-12 media days are set for July 25, 2018, in Hollywood, California. Clay Helton (Head coach), Porter Gustin (OLB) & Cameron Smith (ILB) at Pac-12 media days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Trojans predicted to win the Pac-12 South division title.