Why USC’s NFL-Style Approach to Returning Players Could Change College Football Forever
Over the past weekend, the USC Trojans quietly flipped the script on how college football rosters get announced—and, boy, has it stirred up quite the buzz. Instead of the usual calm wave of updates, the Trojans’ official channels dropped a clever series of posts heralding which 2025 players will suit up for the 2026 season. Starting with Waymond Jordan on Saturday, followed by Braylan Shelby, Christian Pierce, Jadyn Walker, and Marcelles Williams the next day, this rollout feels more like an NFL free agency unveiling than your typical collegiate lineup reveal. It’s fascinating to watch a program so steeped in tradition fully embrace the new NIL-driven era, signaling that contracts and cash flow now play a starring role in player loyalty—and they’re not shy about it. Intrigued? This could be a pivotal moment for college football’s evolving landscape. LEARN MORE
Over the weekend, USC football‘s official social media accounts began announcing players from the 2025 roster who will be returning to the Trojans in 2026.
It started with a post about Waymond Jordan on Saturday, and then the Trojans announced the return of Braylan Shelby, Christian Pierce, Jadyn Walker, and Marcelles Williams on Sunday.
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The new method
Each series of posts was preceded by a post on X that simply featured hourglass emojis. The Trojans posted 1 hourglass emoji before announcing Jordan’s return on Saturday. They posted four hourglass emojis before announcing that Shelby, Pierce, Walker and Williams are returning on Sunday. If that trend continues, USC will announce 6 more returners on Monday, as USC posted six hourglass emojis on X Monday morning.
But I don’t want to talk about the fact that the Trojans made the posts, the methodology, the graphic design. I’ve commented on that before and believe me, it’s something I pay attention to.
Details matter
I want to talk about the wording each post uses.
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“Waymond Jordan has re-signed with the USC Trojans,” Jordan’s return announcement post reads.
One small word in that phrase has sent a lot of college football fans into a frenzy: re-signed.
Paradigm shift
That makes enticing players to join your program sound a lot more like NFL free agency than traditional college football recruiting. The Trojans aren’t being shy about the fact that there’s a contract involved now, and a contract is involved because money is involved.
I actually like USC using the terminology “re-signed” in their posts, and I think that the posts make the best of a chaotic new college football roster construction reality.
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Let’s talk about it.
I get why people are annoyed
First of all, don’t get me wrong, I get why the NFL-ification of college football roster construction bothers people. So much of the meaning that we derive from college football has to do with school pride and it’s unsettling to know that player loyalty can now be bought, or at least somewhat influenced by money.
I feel that too. Roster turnover can be really disheartening as a fan. I have a special place in my heart for USC players who spend multiple years in the cardinal and gold, and I especially treasure the players who spend their entire college careers as Trojans.
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Players always deserved their share of the pie
NIL is not a perfect system by any means. But it’s much more equitable then when players didn’t see a dime of the unthinkable amount of money that was made off of their games, merchandise, and everything else.
College players have to sacrifice so much to be great at what they do, and balance their classes and other life responsibilities in the meantime. Do we really want to go back to a system where many of them had to get a part time job as well? That’s not good for the health of the players or the sport.
USC shows it is adapting to the new era
Beyond announcing that each of these players are returning, the subliminal messaging USC is sending to its fanbase through the posts is clear: the Trojans are making NIL a priority and taking care of their players.
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In college football recruiting, it’s always been adapt or die. With money now in the picture, USC has to open the checkbook or it will lose top recruits to other schools that will compensate their players well.
By making these posts, USC shows it is not just keeping up with the curve of how college football teams think about their free agents, they are ahead of the curve.
Re-signing: a reason to celebrate
The offseason is a tough time for any sports fan. But little bits of news here and there about your favorite team always helps fans stay engaged and excited about the upcoming season.
Every time I’ve seen one of USC’s signing announcements in the past few days, I’ve felt a surge of excitement. I can’t wait to see each and every one of USC’s returners back in the Cardinal and Gold. Each of them showed flashes of stardom and I believe they will all be better, more consistent players in 2026 after a full offseason of coaching.
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You argue that the fact that each player needs an individual “announcement” shows how far loyalty has fallen in college football. That’s not how I feel about it. Instead, I feel the same excitement that I feel when my favorite pro teams re-sign popular players. Why not celebrate each player’s return individually? To me, it’s more fun and hype-inducing than depressing.
I want to focus on the fact that each player stayed, regardless of exactly why, rather than the fact that they could have left. But I understand people who struggle to do that.
This puts recruits and returners on a level playing field
If you remember, I also discussed USC’s signing day social media campaign, where the Trojans let the names of their big recruits speak for themselves.
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This feels very similar, both graphically and in tone, and I think that’s intentional.
Think about it: if USC’s recruits are signing contracts and USC’s returners are signing contracts, that puts them all on a level playing field entering 2026: all on new contracts.
That, to me, sends a subliminal message that each season is a fresh start. There are no guarantees that “veterans” will occupy every starting spot. Returners have to earn their keep as much as freshman do — and the Trojans won’t be afraid to play someone from their extremely talented 2026 recruiting class over a returner who isn’t cutting it.
Merit-based, as it was under Pete Carroll
I like the idea of USC playing players entirely based on their play on the football field and not because of program politics. That’s how Michael Jordan became an immediate star at North Carolina back in the day: breaking conventional norms about age and skill level.
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Overall, for me it’s simple: every time my team adds a talented player, I get excited. Bonus points if the player was already on my team and I already know and like them.
To me, that’s the very simple way to look at this. And if you want to go any deeper about the state of college football, it’s at least a good sign that USC is staying ahead of the game.
So bring on the re-signing announcements. I can’t wait to see who is officially returning as of today.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football handling of returning players is unprecedented move
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