USC football nabbed one of the best players in the 2025 recruiting class, in quarterback Julian Lewis. Lewis says it was USC football coach Lincoln Riley that motivated him to pick the Trojans.

“I chose USC for Coach Riley, Coach Riley has had a long run with quarterbacks,” Lewis said. “He's had a good thing with all the Heisman trophies and stuff like that. That's hard to skip over as a quarterback. That's what got me.”

Lewis actually has visited some other schools since his commitment, including Auburn. He remains committed to the Trojans, he said. The young gunslinger is a five star recruit, and ranked no. 16 in the 247 Sports 2025 class player rankings.

USC football in 2024

Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park.
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC football is preparing to play its first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 2024. The Trojans had a somewhat disappointing season in 2023. The team had a high-octane offense with quarterback Caleb Williams, who went on to be the no. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The defense however, was a different story. USC football struggled to keep opposing offenses off the field, and the team finished the year at 8-5. The team did win the Holiday Bowl, in a 42-28 triumph over Louisville.

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Football News
Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to running back Dante Dowdell (23) during the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska lands 6-foot-4 weapon over Ole Miss, Penn StateLorenzo J Reyna ·
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota
Big Ten firmly backs Wisconsin football in lawsuit against MiamiAlex House ·
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore (13) brings down Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Oklahoma won 24-3.
Oklahoma beats out LSU for top-10 2026 QB recruitLorenzo J Reyna ·
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman waits to run onto the field during the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Notre Dame continues to lap Oregon, Penn State for top DB recruitsLorenzo J Reyna ·
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) catches a pass against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (7) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium.
Wisconsin drops lawsuit on Miami for tamperingLorenzo J Reyna ·
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) scores a rushing touchdown against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
Notre Dame reels in top 10 CB over Oregon, Penn StateLorenzo J Reyna ·

Williams is now gone, along with a slew of other talented players. USC football must find a way to navigate the Big Ten with a new quarterback. The Trojans have incoming UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava to compete for that job, along with some other talents. The Trojans have more than a dozen incoming transfers, who will look to get the team back to greatness.

USC football starts their season on September 1, in a very tough game with LSU. The Trojans also play Utah State and bitter rival Notre Dame, in one of the hardest non conference slates of any team in the country. The Trojans start their conference schedule against Michigan on September 21, in what should be a memorable and thrilling contest.

What Julian Lewis is doing this season

Lewis must wait another season to join Riley and USC football, but he is certainly going to be watching the team. Lewis is the third highest ranked quarterback in the 2025 class, per 247Sports. The other two players ahead of him are Bryce Underwood and Tavien St. Clair. Both of those gunslingers are also going to power 5 programs.

Lewis is a 6-foot-1, 185 pound quarterback from Georgia. He has posted some incredible numbers in high school. The quarterback has thrown for more than 7,000 yards and nearly 100 touchdowns, per Max Preps. He has thrown only 14 interceptions, while recording more than 700 pass attempts. That's truly impressive.

The young man is currently in California, to attend the Elite 11 Finals. It is an event that brings together elite high school quarterbacks from across the country to hone their skills. Lincoln Riley will surely be watching, as the event is near the USC campus. The future certainly looks bright for both Lewis and the Trojans.