Chad Bowden continues to be a major focal point of discussion among college football recruiting analysts
For the first few years of the NIL era, it seemed as though USC was struggling to adapt to the modern era of talent acquisition. Under new general manager Chad Bowden, however, it feels as though that has finally changed. A few months into Bowden’s tenure, the Trojans have the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country for the 2026 cycle.
By now, the national media is catching onto USC’s rise on the recruiting and NIL fronts. On a recent episode of his college football show “The Hard Count”, J.D. Pickell discussed the Trojans’ recent developments in the NIL game.
“[People are saying] ‘Well they just bought their class’—if they are, dude, good,” Pickell said. “I’d be concerned if they weren’t buying their class.”
“Wasn’t that always kind of the thing for USC? Wasn’t that always the advantage? If you’re telling me that the school in one of the most major cities in America—in Los Angeles—is going to have a chance to pay players? You better have a top class! You better be competing in that tier.
“I think overall, USC is now operating at a different tier. And if NIL is a part of that, that’s how it should be.”
USC fans are certainly hoping that the Trojans have figured out NIL enough that they will be able to keep their top-ranked recruiting class together through signing day in December. After several years in a row of disappointing results both on the field and in recruiting, USC fans are desperate for any sort of positive momentum, and landing one of the top recruiting classes in the country for the 2026 cycle would certainly provide that.
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