USC just lost the guy in the middle of its offensive line before a single snap of the season. Killian O'Connor, the Trojans' presumptive starting center, is done for 2026 after breaking his leg in training camp, according to Lincoln Riley.
USC projected starting center Killian O’Connor will miss the 2026 season with a broken leg, Lincoln Riley announced.
This one stings extra because of how O'Connor got here. He walked on at USC back in 2022, no scholarship, no guarantee, just a roster spot and a chance to prove himself. He barely saw the field early, appearing in just 1 game in 2024, before grinding his way into a starting job. Last season he started 7 games at center despite battling a knee injury that cost him time, and he'd fully taken over as the guy Riley trusted up front heading into this fall.
O'Connor's own words on the journey say it all: "Just because you start as a walk-on, doesn't mean you have to finish there. It's a seat at the table, at the end of the day. I'm forever grateful for that seat. Now it's time to eat." That's the backstory that makes a broken leg in August hurt so much more than a typical camp injury.
The timing is brutal for USC. The Trojans are trying to build real Playoff credibility this year, and offensive line continuity was supposed to be a strength with O'Connor anchoring the middle. Now Riley has to find a replacement center on the fly, and centers aren't exactly plug-and-play — the position runs the protections and line calls, which usually means a steep learning curve for whoever steps in.
It's also just a gut-punch story on its own. A walk-on who outworked his way into a starting job, dealt with a knee injury to hold onto it, and finally looked like he'd cemented his spot — only for a freak break to end the season before it starts. USC will move on up front, but expect O'Connor's name to keep coming up as a captain candidate and a locker-room fixture even while he's on the shelf.