USC’s social media team tried to ride the wave of Christopher Nolan’s new movie. Instead, they became the punchline.
On Friday, July 17, the official USC Athletics account on X posted a slick graphic promoting the Trojans’ upcoming football season.
But social media users quickly pointed out a glaring flaw.
USC Trojans’ ‘Odyssey’ Promo Backfires over Greek Mythology Mix-Up
The image showed the team’s iconic red-plumed helmet next to bold white text reading “THE ODYSSEY,” with the date “08.29.26” stamped below in gold. The caption read: “Our Odyssey begins August 29 ⚔️”
On paper, it seemed like a smart bit of marketing. Nolan’s The Odyssey just hit theaters nationwide, starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya. Tying a college football season opener to a buzzy blockbuster looks like an easy win for engagement.
Except there’s a pretty glaring issue. Homer’s The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the Greek king who helped defeat Troy. He’s the hero. The Trojans are not.
For anyone who remembers high school English class, the irony is hard to miss.
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The entire war ends with the Greeks tricking their way into Troy using a hollow wooden horse, then burning the city to the ground. USC’s mascot is literally on the losing side of the story.
Our Odyssey begins August 29 ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Y0i2wYdfh2
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) July 17, 2026
Social media users wasted no time pointing that out.
“You understand the entire premise of the Odyssey is the Greeks are traveling home from defeating the Trojans, correct?” Miami Hurricanes reporter Timothy Johnson asked bluntly.
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Outkick’s Jon Root joked about spoiling the ending entirely, writing simply, “SPOILER ALERT: The Trojans lose.”
Steve Smith, who is a member of Football Writers Association of America, kept his reaction short, posting just, “Yikes…” His one-word post said what a lot of people were probably thinking.
Others piled on with jabs about USC’s recent football struggles, unrelated to the literary mix-up but clearly enjoying the pile-on. One content creator needled the account for not “reading the room,” pointing out the program hasn’t reached the College Football Playoff since it began.
The irony didn’t stop with the movie tie-in. USC opens its 2026 season on August 29 against San Jose State, whose team happens to be called the Spartans.
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That matchup wasn’t lost on commenters either, since Sparta and Troy weren’t exactly allies in Greek mythology, and Spartans have their own storied reputation as fierce warriors.
Beyond the meme-worthy mistake, USC does have a real season ahead.
The Trojans are expected to be ranked in the top 20 this year, with legitimate hopes of finally cracking the College Football Playoff.
They ranked fourth-best in PFSN’s College Football Offense Ratings Impact last season, giving head coach Lincoln Riley plenty of reason to believe the Trojans can lean on their offense again in 2026.
Their schedule includes tough road trips to Rutgers on September 19 and Penn State on October 10, plus a November matchup at Indiana.
No Cyclops or Sirens await them on those trips, but plenty of travel fatigue and tough competition might feel just as brutal.
