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Indiana football methods will continue to challenge, measure USC
TL;DR
Indiana football's success with transfer portal classes is raising questions about USC's roster construction methods. Indiana's 2026 transfer class was ranked No. 2 in the U.S., potentially increasing scrutiny on USC if they fail to perform.
USC football succeeded in 2022 because it used the transfer portal extremely well. The Trojans got Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison, Travis Dye, Bobby Haskins, Mario Williams, and other hugely important players that year. In subsequent years, USC's portal haul -- and reliance on the portal -- declined. Meanwhile, Indiana and Curt Cignetti raided the portal to win big. The more Indiana wins with its methods, the more USC and other Big Ten programs will face scrutiny about how they construct rosters.
ESPN's Bill Connelly ranked Indiana's transfer portal class No. 2 in the United States for 2026. Here's his analysis:
"I just love the tidiness. Before Indiana had even completed its national title run, Curt Cignetti had already locked down productive veterans for the latest succession plan. Hoover, with his 9,629 career passing yards, moves in for Fernando Mendoza. Richard, productive and exciting despite getting almost no help at BC, will look to replace one of last year's two 1,000-yard rushers. Receivers Nick Marsh (Michigan State) and Shazz Preston (Tulane) will be asked to fill in for Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt. The top three defensive ends are gone, so here come Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State), Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State) and Josh Burnham (Notre Dame). Three starters are gone from the secondary, and here come four veteran transfers. The bar is ridiculously high, of course, and there's nothing saying Cignetti and his staff won't whiff on an evaluation or two at some point. But this all makes so much damn sense."
There's no one way to construct a roster. This can be done in different ways. Yet, right or wrong, it's a reality that the more Indiana and Curt Cignetti succeed with top-tier transfer portal classes, the more USC and other Big Ten programs will wonder if they are stocking the cupboard the right way. If USC can't win big in 2026, and Indiana keeps chugging along, the Trojans' methods will be questioned ... and it will be hard to say such an inquiry will be unfair or inappropriate.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Indiana's winning formula will apply more scrutiny to USC football
Q&A
What is Indiana's ranking for the 2026 transfer portal class?
Indiana's transfer portal class was ranked No. 2 in the United States for 2026.
How has USC's reliance on the transfer portal changed since 2022?
USC's reliance on the transfer portal has declined since 2022, when they successfully acquired key players like Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison.
What impact could Indiana's success have on USC's football program?
If Indiana continues to succeed with their transfer portal strategy, it may lead to increased scrutiny of USC's roster construction methods, especially if USC fails to achieve significant wins in 2026.
