​Facing what could be a make-or-break year for head coach Lincoln Riley, the USC Trojans face a daunting schedule.Anything short of the school’s first College Football Playoff berth could send Riley packing, and with perennial title contenders Oregon and Ohio State on the slate, there’s not much room for error.Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches in the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesYes, those games will be at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but ESPN Analytics gives the Buckeyes a 75% chance to win and the Ducks a 67.3% chance to win.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite those daunting odds, J.D. PicKell of On3 thinks the Trojans can pull off an upset elsewhere — a big win on the road that will let the Trojans make their first CFP appearance.According to PicKell, the Trojans’ 2026 campaign hinges on the Nov. 14 matchup in Bloomington, Indiana.The defending national champion Hoosiers are hosting the Trojans, and while the Hoosiers have never topped USC before, we’ve never seen a program turnaround like the one engineered by coach Curt Cignetti.Granted, this could change drastically once the season begins, but ESPN Analytics has the Hoosiers with a 77.3% chance to win, even higher than the odds given to Oregon and Ohio State. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LA Sports Report (@lasportsreport)Before Indiana, though, USC plays that Ohio State game, then has an off week.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf the Trojans’ backs were against the wall with two losses already, Riley and his team would definitely do everything they could to utilize that off week to scheme for Indiana in hopes of saving their season — and perhaps Riley’s job.Oct 18, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) passes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn ImagesPicKell predicts USC will pull it off and find itself in the hunt for a national title heading into the holiday season.“You finish with a win at Indiana — huge for the program — you beat Maryland and you beat UCLA at their place to finish 10-2 and lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff,” PicKell said.Do you think PicKell is right and the Trojans will take a step forward this year?The post USC Will Make Playoff With 1 Key Upset, Analyst Says appeared first on LA Sports Report.