One of the most anticipated seasons in recent USC history is officially upon us.The No.14 USC Trojans will open the 2026 season Sept. 29 against San José State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Week 0 matchup between the Trojans and Spartans marks the beginning of a season that’s full of expectations. The Trojans enter the year ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll after going unranked to open the 2025 season.USC brings back an FBS-leading amount of returning starters and signed the No. 1 freshman class in the nation. The roster has experience, high-end talent and more depth than the program has had in recent years.Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans offensive lineman Micah Banuelos (59), quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) and USC Trojans defensive end Jadyn Ramos (95) celebrate after defeating the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectTo add to the pressure facing this USC squad, Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season at USC without a College Football Playoff appearance. The Trojans went 35-18 across his first four seasons, including a 6-13 record against ranked opponents.Saturday's matchup with San José State will not answer every question facing the Trojans, but it can provide the first evidence that USC is building toward the team it wants to be by November.Here are three things the Trojans need to prove in Week 0.USC's Defense Has Truly Turned the CornerThe biggest question surrounding USC might still be its defense.The Trojans have made significant changes on that side of the ball heading into 2026, with Gary Patterson taking over as defensive coordinator. That gives USC another opportunity to prove the improvement it made statistically last season can carry over into a new year.TCU coach Gary Patterson during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Oklahoma won 52-31.