2026 MATRIXWEEK 9138 FBS TEAMS56 GAMESCOLLEGE FOOTBALL DECODEDMODEL + MARKET + CONTEXT
GameDay Matrix
U
Big Ten · Trojans · 6-2

USC

Ratings fitted through Week 8. Results through October 25.

Preseason roster reference: Fourteen returning starters, Jayden Maiava and a major defensive staff upgrade create a stronger team than the schedule-only baseline indicates.

MPR #17Projected Wins #42Big Ten MPR #4Ratings through Week 8 · Outlook October 25
Matrix Power Rating15.5National #17
Projected Wins7.80National #42
Schedule Strength#20National SOS rank
Projected Offense26.5Remaining-schedule average
Projected Defense28.7Remaining-schedule average
Point Differential-2.2Projected per game
Week 8 Model Update

Model Response

Moved Down

The Week 8 review is complete. This panel shows the rating change and its football context.

Week-over-Week MPR16.79 → 15.45-1.34 MPR
Rank#15 → #17-2 spots
Projected Wins8.63 → 7.80Week 9 refresh
SEASON STRENGTH UPDATE

Lost to Wisconsin 7–24. The opponent-adjusted season fit moves power -1.3 points; unit inputs are retained.

External Headlines

Latest USC news.

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Outcome Range

Season Distribution

Completed results through October 25 are fixed. Remaining-game probabilities use the ratings fitted through Week 8.

Current Season OutlookResults through October 25
6
7
8
9
10
The gold bar is the current mode (8 wins). Each remaining game is treated independently; shared rating uncertainty is not included. Bars below 0.05% are omitted.
Season Market Reference · 2026-08-08
Current Forecast / Preseason Quote

The August 8 quote is retained for comparison. This gap is not a current betting recommendation and does not define team strength.

Preseason Posted Total8.5
Preseason Effective Market8.31
Current Win-Total Gap-0.52
Quote StatusReference only
Game by Game

2026 Schedule Matrix

Upcoming games use season-strength ratings after Week 8. Completed results retain their original pregame Matrix forecast.

DateOpponentWin %Score / ResultMarginTotalConfidenceType
AUG 29San Jose StateHome · FINALFINALGame Status42–26Pre-game model 46–1042–26Final · Pregame Matrix 46–10—TotalFINAL+16Actual margin
SEP 4Fresno StateHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status39–0Final · Pregame Matrix 36–14+21.9Margin50.5TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 12LouisianaHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status49–30Final · Pregame Matrix 45–14+19.0Final Margin59.8TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 19RutgersAway · Big TenFINALGame Status42–35Final · Pregame Matrix 39–20+18.8Margin59.3TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 26OregonHome · Big TenFINALGame Status27–41Final · Pregame Matrix 26–31-4.8Margin56.6TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 3WashingtonHome · Big TenFINALGame Status25–21Final · Pregame Matrix 31–23+8.0Margin53.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 10Penn StateAway · Big TenFINALGame Status31–23Final · Pregame Matrix 26–28-2.1Margin54.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 24WisconsinAway · Big TenFINALGame Status7–24Final · Pregame Matrix 28–19+9.0Margin48.0TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 31Ohio StateHome · Big Ten15%Win %19–35Current projection-15.5Margin53.9TotalHighFBSOpponent
NOV 14IndianaAway · Big Ten19%Win %21–34Current projection-13.2Margin55.3TotalHighFBSOpponent
NOV 21MarylandHome · Big Ten86%Win %35–19Current projection+16.5Margin54.0TotalHighFBSOpponent
NOV 28UCLAAway · Big Ten59%Win %31–27Current projection+3.6Margin57.7TotalLowFBSOpponent
Upcoming games use current ratings. Completed games preserve their original forecast and final result.
← All Teams

Week 8 closeout is complete. Season-win market comparisons retain the August 8 quote vintage; they are reference comparisons. Season-win distributions condition on played results and use independent remaining-game probabilities.

Active net power 15.45 = OFF 38.73 − DEF 19.65 + ST -0.18 + legacy residual 0.25 + season adjustment -3.70. Sigma 1.57.