The University of Southern California announced that its 2026 football season will begin on August 29, when the Trojans travel to face San Jose State in a non‑conference showdown. The matchup marks the first step in a schedule that promises a blend of traditional rivalries and new challenges, and it has already sparked conversation among alumni and current fans alike.
Among the names that still echo through the Coliseum’s halls is Deontay Burnett, whose three‑year tenure as a Trojan wide receiver produced some of the program’s most memorable moments. In his junior year Burnett emerged as the team’s primary target, hauling in 86 passes for 1,114 yards and nine touchdowns, numbers that placed him at the top of the school’s receiving charts.
Burnett's Rose Bowl Moment Still Resonates
The climax of Burnett’s college career came in the 2017 Rose Bowl against Penn State, where his 13‑catch, 164‑yard, three‑touchdown effort helped USC rally from a deficit to a 52‑49 victory. ESPN commentator Chris Fowler’s vivid description of the game‑tying score with just over a minute remaining has become a staple of Trojan lore, replayed on highlight reels every season.
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Burnett signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent and later spent time with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League. Though his professional résumé includes just 16 receptions for 215 yards, the experience of navigating multiple rosters underscores the resilience he cultivated in Los Angeles.
Now, as the Trojans prepare for the upcoming campaign, the memory of Burnett’s clutch performances serves as a rallying point for a new generation of players eager to etch their own stories into the program’s rich tapestry. The August 29 opener against San Jose State offers a fresh canvas on which to build the next chapter of USC football.