The 2027 recruiting class is filled with top-tier talent, with many of those blue-chip players already committed to college programs. The month of June saw 130 blue-chip players commit, which included 10 of the top 50 players in the 2027 class, according to Rivals.One thing to note about these commitments is that the USC Trojans did not land any of the top 50 players in the month of June after finishing a majority of its 2027 recruiting in the spring. One rival did have success, however.Oct 4, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman adjusts his radio against the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNotre Dame Fighting IrishThe rival in question is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who landed two five-stars with edge rusher Abraham Sesay and interior offensive lineman Albert Simien. Sesay ranks as the No. 20 player in the country and is the No. 3 edge rusher, while Simien is the No. 19 player in the country and ranks as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the nation.These are two major additions for Notre Dame, as this strengthens their 2027 class, which at this point places No. 2 in the country just behind the Texas A&M Aggies. Led by coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame seems to be building a roster that is built to compete now, but also has its sights on building for the future as well. In Freeman’s time with the Fighting Irish, he has posted an overall record of 43-12. With Freeman at the helm, Notre Dame has experienced great success in the regular season, but also in bowl games, as the Fighting Irish have gone 2-1 in bowl games under Freeman while also making a run to the national championship in 2024 by taking down Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State before ultimately falling to Ohio State.Apr 12, 2025; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman smiles during the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAs a result of just missing out on the College Football Playoff last season with a record of 10-2, Freeman and the Fighting Irish opted out of playing a bowl game and have as much motivation as ever to have a great performance during the 2026 season.After beating the Trojans 34-24 at home last season, Notre Dame and USC will now go at least the next few seasons without playing, which means that the only time they could play is the postseason as of now. Regardless of that, the recruiting battle will be something to monitor to see if either program can flip recruits and who builds the better roster in an effort to have sustained success.Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley speaks with the official during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectUSC’s Top Recruits In The 2027 ClassWhile Notre Dame currently has the No. 2 recruiting class in the country for 2027, coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are not far off as they have the No. 10 class for next year in addition to hoisting the No. 1 class for 2026.In the 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans landed two five-stars in defensive end Luke Wafle and tight end Mark Bowman. Heading into next season, it does seem quite likely that Wafle and Bowman will carve out rotational roles for themselves and could become cornerstones of the USC football program for the next few years.When it comes to the 2027 class, the Trojans were also able to land a pair of five-stars in the form of cornerback Honor Fa’alave Johnson and edge rusher Mekai Brown. Both Johnson and Brown should become key contributors for USC when they step on campus in 2027, and could help the Trojans recruit more top talent to rise in the rankings before the recruitment process for next year’s class closes.Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches from the sidelines against the Missouri State Bears in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectIt is important to note that with the 2026 class containing 35 commits, the Trojans do not need nearly as many recruits for 2027, when also considering that Riley also uses the transfer portal to his advantage when patching up weaknesses on the roster. Based on that, USC may only add a few more players to next year’s class, but with the development of the 2026 recruits in addition to future players coming in through the transfer portal, the state of the roster should be able to compete in what is a very tough Big Ten conference.With quarterback Jayden Maiava expected to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, this upcoming season will be critical for the development of four-star quarterback Jonas Williams, whom USC recruited for the 2026 class.If Williams does turn out to be the Trojans’ quarterback of the future, USC could be in a great spot to continue competing in the Big Ten and could potentially emerge as one of the more consistent national contenders.Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news. Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow