Countdown to the 2026 Season Opener
USC is gearing up for its 2026 football season opener, scheduled for August 29 against San Jose State, and the program is marking the milestone with a series of features that spotlight former Trojans who have left a mark on the field.
The latest profile focuses on Zach Banner, a former offensive lineman whose collegiate career at USC spanned from 2012 to 2016 and culminated in a Rose Bowl victory.
Zach Banner’s College Years
Banner’s path in college was anything but linear; he redshirted in his first year, missed most of 2013 due to a hip injury, and then broke out as a starter at right tackle as a redshirt sophomore, earning first‑team All‑Pac‑12 honors in both 2015 and 2016 while helping the team capture a Rose Bowl title.
From College to the Pros
After being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, Banner’s professional trajectory included brief stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with a release in 2022 marking the end of his NFL tenure.
Nearly three years later he resurfaced with the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2025 before announcing his retirement in February, closing a chapter that began in Los Angeles.
His story reflects the ups and downs of a football career, but also the enduring connection he maintains with the Trojans community as the team looks ahead to its season‑opening showdown.