Five things USC fans can be thankful for this Thanksgiving

This past week has been a rough one for USC fans. With the football team falling 42-27 at Oregon on Saturday, the Trojans are now eliminated from the Big Ten and College Football Playoff races.

However, today is Thanksgiving, a holiday about giving thanks. While things might feel a bit rough right now, there is still plenty for USC fans to be thankful for in 2025. Here are a few of the highlights:

Makai Lemon’s incredible season

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon has been having an incredible season—one that has earned him recognition as a Biletnikoff Award finalist. Through 11 games, Lemon leads the Power Four with 78 receptions for 1,124 yards and ten touchdowns.

USC fans have been somewhat spoiled in the wide receiver department, as the Trojans have had numerous elite players at the position come through the program in recent years. However, seasons like the one that Lemon is currently having do not happen all the time, and cannot be taken for granted.

Chad Bowden and the 2026 recruiting class

Of course, the future of the USX football program is largely centered around the No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class. The Trojans have a ton of talent that will be arriving on campus next season, and should continue to bring in top players in the years to come with general manager Chad Bowden leading the way.

Lindsay Gottlieb and the women’s basketball program

Another USC program that is continuing to load up on talent is women’s basketball. With Juju Watkins returning next season to team up with young rising stars Kennedy Smith and Jazzy Davidson, the Women of Troy appear to be in great position to make a Final Four run.

A Maui Invitational championship

Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team won the Maui Invitational this week. While it is still very early in the season, it appears as though this team could be one worthy of getting excited about.

Not being UCLA fans

Last but not least, regardless of what you think about the current state of the Trojans, it could certainly be much worse. Across town in Westwood, the football program is a complete dumpster fire. UCLA is currently 3-8, near the bottom rung of the ladder in terms of Power Four jobs available in this coaching carousel, and has no clue where its home games will be played next season.

No matter how frustrating things may get at USC, UCLA will inevitably find a way to have it even worse. That in itself is something to be thankful for this year.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Five things USC fans can be thankful for on Thanksgiving 2025