USC football has introduced a new approach for team leadership this season. Instead of naming permanent captains, head coach Lincoln Riley has opted for a game-by-game selection process. This change aims to foster competition among players, allowing them to earn their captaincy each week based on their performance on and off the field.
“Captains wise, we’re we’re pivoting a little bit closer to what we did for the Holiday Bowl and we are going to have captains this year game by game. We’re not going to name permanent team captains. Now I do have a a Leadership Council that’s permanent that I meet with on a weekly basis and that’ll continue — but our captains are going to be earned each week and it’ll be announced,” Riley said.
Riley will maintain a permanent Leadership Council that he meets with weekly, but the captains will be determined by who demonstrates the best leadership qualities during practices and games. This strategy is designed to keep players motivated and engaged throughout the season.
“Those are those are the five for this week but that’ll change (referencing the players listed below), and not necessarily on somebody not doing a good job,” Riley continued. “It’s just going to be the five that we think are the best and and most deserving and the ones that we want leading us out each and every week — and kind of like this game of college football, every week you got earn it.”
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The initial captains for the upcoming week include:
Kyron Hudson: A redshirt junior wide receiver with 34 receptions, 345 yards, and 5 touchdowns over his three years at USC. He brings valuable experience to a young receiving corps.
Akili Arnold: A redshirt senior safety who transferred from Oregon State, where he recorded 151 tackles and an impressive coverage grade. He has shown strong defensive skills, allowing only one touchdown in over 650 coverage snaps.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold: A senior linebacker who returned to Southern California after three years at Oregon State. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, accumulating 107 tackles and making significant contributions on defense.
Jonah Monheim: The only returning captain from last season, Monheim is expected to provide continuity and leadership.
Miller Moss: A player recognized for his leadership potential, Moss will need to showcase his abilities on the field to solidify his role as a captain.
This new system emphasizes that leadership is earned, not given, and reflects a commitment to building a competitive and accountable team culture.
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