Lincoln Riley brushes off criticism, insists USC is still a power at Big Ten media days
![USC coach Lincoln Riley talks with reporters during a news conference at Big Ten media days.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfbe017/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2F10%2F6038236643ba867536404e9adb5d%2Fbig-ten-media-days-football-48576.jpg)
Lincoln Riley talks with reporters during his presser at Big Ten media days on Wednesday. (Doug McSchooler / AP)
INDIANAPOLIS —
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — Lincoln Riley strode confidently into the cavernous confines of a new, unfamiliar stadium, one of the new coaches on the block in the Big Ten, surrounded on all sides by both the novel and the unfamiliar.
Everywhere inside Lucas Oil Stadium were reminders of how much Riley’s circumstances had changed since last season. New coaches, new players, new logos, new everything.
It wasn’t just the new conference and all its new trappings, though. The landscape of college athletics has been upended since USC beat Louisville in the Holiday Bowl in December.
Within the Trojans’ own building, so much had turned over, too. A new quarterback, a new defensive coordinator, a new defensive scheme and a new, stiffer schedule to handle, all with revenue sharing also on the horizon.
But amid all the new and unfamiliar at Big Ten media days, the message from Riley, at the start of his third season at USC, was, by now, a well-worn one. In fact, he offered an almost identical sentiment at this time last year, at Pac-12 media day … before USC imploded, and finished a frustrating 8-5.
In discussing the state of his program Wednesday at Big Ten media days, Riley declared that USC had made “progress in every way you can possibly measure” since he took over, but was still well in the midst of a “rebuild” nearly three years in, one he suggested was far more substantial than those his Big Ten counterparts took on.
In the same breath, Riley was also defiant that USC enters its new conference this year already among its upper tier, with its sights set on stacking national titles.
How long he can successfully straddle both of those notions as USC’s coach remains to be seen.
“We are at the top of the Big Ten,” Riley said. “We’re at the top of any conference. I don’t ever look at ourselves as below anybody. And never will. Listen, two years ago, look where Ohio State and Oregon were. Look what they took over. Look what we took over. It takes time. I’m not a magician. I can’t wave a magic wand and everything be perfect right away. But find one area where we haven’t made progress. It’s coming. Nothing is going to stop it.”
Will that confidence be enough to quell concerns, fair or not, coming into Year 3? It’s unclear. Already, talking heads across the sport have taken to lobbing narrative grenades toward Riley and the Trojans over the past month, with ESPN’s Paul Finebaum most recently declaring his tenure at USC to be “a disaster.”
Those potshots elicited a heavy eye roll from Riley’s new quarterback, Miller Moss.
“We’re not going to pay any mind to people who have no idea what’s going on within our program and our building,” Moss said.
And indeed, no matter the blathering on ESPN, no one within USC is under the impression Riley enters USC’s first year in the Big Ten in danger or under pressure from within.
But this season looms as the most critical yet for Riley, not only to make a first impression in a new conference, but also to reignite belief he’s the same coach USC backed up the Brinks truck to hire back in 2021 for nearly $20 million.
Patience, in that regard, is beginning to wear thin around USC, as whispers of discontent among fans and donors — with NIL, with recruiting, with on-field results — grew louder and louder through the offseason. Recruiting missteps in the summer, which saw two five-star prospects de-commit, did nothing to help the perception USC is still lagging on that front.
Riley was well aware of that perception Wednesday.
In defending its progress, he went so far as to declare House of Victory, USC’s donor-led collective, as “the most improved collective in the country.”
“From where [NIL at USC] was to where it is now is incredible,” Riley said. “It’s just what lens do you look at it from. Is it at the top of the top? No, but we’re not far off.”
At a foundational level, however, USC has been slow to gain traction in recruiting over the summer, hamstrung by those extremely high-profile decommitments after some early momentum.
At the moment, USC has the 24th-ranked recruiting class in the nation in the class of 2025, as pinned by 247Sports; Ohio State and Oregon, by comparison, rank first and fifth.
Where things stand on the field is just as uncertain, especially as the competition ratchets up in a new conference. Through 27 games, Riley is 19-8, the same win-loss total as his predecessor, the much-maligned Clay Helton, whose tenure ended in complete collapse. Yet at this point in his tenure, Helton had far more tangible momentum.
Despite all the bravado, Riley still has more question marks both throughout his program and in what the 2024 Trojans now face than anything.
The schedule — with first-month road matchups against LSU and Michigan — is a murderer’s row compared with its recent slates under Riley.
Caleb Williams is off to the NFL, while Moss is still mostly untested at quarterback, aside from his six-touchdown explosion in the Holiday Bowl. And the defense, led by new coordinator D’Anton Lynn, is still a complete unknown, even if Riley noted the front seven was “quite a bit bigger, quite a bit stronger” than past years.
Only time will tell how that “progress” plays out in a brand-new conference, against new teams with new styles and new coaches.
All told, Riley repeated the word “progress” – from a program-wide standpoint – nine times, by the Southern California News Group’s unofficial count, at various points through three separate media sessions during USC’s showing at Big Ten Media Day. He uttered the word “rebuild” three times.
But Riley made clear Wednesday that he has every intention of sticking around for the foreseeable future to see it through.
“I was very much a believer and even more so now that the firepower in this program has not gone anywhere,” Riley said. “It’s a process to get [back] there. We’ve been playing catch-up in damn near every way that you can think of.
“Has my patience been tested by it? Hell yeah. No doubt. Like, every day. But my resolve hasn’t been tested, my commitment to being here hasn’t been tested. I know this is the right place. I know what this is going to be.”
latimes.com
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Michigan isn’t the only program caught spying on its competition in advance, the Canadian soccer staffs have been sent home and the teams penalized 6-points for using a drone flying over its next game competitor New Zealand’s practice.
How much cheating can you really do with soccer? Except to fake injury events for the referees’ enjoyment. What a bunch pf drama queens. It’s like a whole team of miniature floppin Lebron dolls.😁
I couldn’t tell you what they are but teams do have “plays” on corner kicks and penalty kicks and have formations or alignments. If I watch soccer I record it and fast forward to the goals anyway. Too much just running around otherwise.
My problem is I can’t get myself to turn it on in the first place. You could call me “lost on the pitch”.
Classic response, I love it DDS!
I watched the Olympics opening ceremomy last night and much to my surprise there was a commercial for the Big 10 featuring none other than the USC Trojans. That was a nice surprise considering how little the PAC did to promote USC.
Totally realize that the SEC is very popular in some areas of the US but the BIG, with its coast to coast reach, powerful programs and population base…….the travel is not welcome but the power and reach now and in the future of the BIG is undeniable. The BIG is managed by folks that understand how to max the conference and its members….the pac12 was run by folks that understood how to max their personal comfort and salary. Frankly I initially thought the move was a mistake but after some reflection…..it was a smart move. USC is with the dominant… Read more »
From what I’ve read, or at least gleaned, Carol Folt was heavily involved in getting USC to the B1G.
I could easily be wrong, but some USC people deserve an awful lot of credit for getting USC out of the ever-sinking, backward-thinking Pac-12 — and just in the nick of time.
I am so glad USC took the lead here, took advantage of its power, and didn’t wait to pick up the lower-value scraps left behind, like CAL and STAN were forced to do.
TEXAS, OU and USC changed the world of CFB forever.
Yep!
Looks like we picked up a 5* LB from Georgia. AW, I’m joining you in implementing expectations management.
Sure beats a kick in the butt! Long way to go… 2026 Four-star DE Xavier Griffin commits to USC Eli Lederman (ESPN) — Lincoln Riley and USC landed the program’s highest-rated commitment in the 2026 class Saturday evening with a pledge from four-star defensive end Xavier Griffin. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass rusher is the No. 21 prospect in the ESPN Junior 300 and the third-ranked defensive end in the 2026 class, per ESPN rankings. Griffin, a standout talent from Gainesville, Georgia, is the fourth-ranked recruit from the state of Georgia in his class and picks the Trojans from a… Read more »
Is this another, here we go again, recruiting a star player in a far away very successful competitor region? Two years to wait for the signing. That’s a long time. I do admire the coaching staff being stubborn of not backing down and giving up trying to recruit in the Deep South where the SEC is protective of its turf. But the Trojan football better play well in having two top ten seasons to keep this level of player and his kind. Might happen, hope it does!
Let’s face it. While many factors will end up coming into play along the line here, a lot will depend on just how much GA really wants him. Gainesville is about 40 miles down the road from Athens.
If Kirby Smart eventually puts the full-court press on Xavier Griffin when the chips are down and convinces Griffin he’s not just gonna ride the Bulldog bench stacked up alongside all the rest of their superstar horde of talent, we shall see.
It’s good that we can go into Georgia and pick up this 5 star right in their backyard but he’s in the 2026 class. That’s a long way off. I’d say our chance of holding onto this guy is less than 50%
Trojan fun on the high seas!
New Scholarship limit for football is now 105 which is an increase of 20 scholarships.
Thanxs Bruddah John W. Hah, now USC can load up on some mo 3* players. Eh, when you go holo holo to Oahu in August here’s some recommendations. Beaches: Ko Olina Resort (3 man made lagoons) Lanikai, Kailua (most beautiful beach), Makaha-Waianae, Waimea Bay, all beaches far away from over crowded Waikiki. Local eats: Ala Moana Shopping Center-food court, Leonard’s malasada’s (Portugese pastry), Pearl Ridge Shopping Center-food court, Rainbow’s Drive Inn, Liliha Bakery & Cafe, various food trucks (all over da place) find one with long lines-locals, good indicator ono kau kau. Drink and take mucho cold water with you… Read more »
I really like Fumi’s and Romey’s shrimp trucks on the North Shore.
Yep Fumi’s is Xlent. Giovanni’s in Haleiwa is just as good.
There are 2 wonderful road side food trucks and spots, you got to go.
Ray’s Kiawe Grill Chicken (Huli Huli), Haleiwa
Mike’s Huli Huli Chicken, Kahuku.
Hawaii’s original Huli Huli, Kiawe grilled chicken at these 2 locations is to die for. So Ono! Mo betta than El Polo Chicken. Peace & Aloha
I’m with you, Canyon. I live in Simi Valley, but my software company’s HQ is between HH Village and Ala Moana mall. I spent about 40% of my time there for the 10 years prior to covid. Love the all the Islands, the people, the food, the culture and the beauty.
Howzit Bruddah Volunteer, thanxs for sharing your story. Shaka, we have a lot in common. I lived and worked on Oahu 1963-1975. Met my wife (local gal, Hapa Haole-Portugese, Hawaii, Chinese). Our daughter was born in Oahu. I’m Haole by da way. Yeah, it was my dream to live there after college. I fell in love with Hawaii, its culture, very nice people, amazing foods, beaches, climate, surfing, fishing, reef diving, crabbing, tennis, etc. So hard leaving, but the high paying aero space jobs in California + low cost of living pushed us to make da move. No big thing, Hawaii is our second home. We have mucho… Read more »
Being defiant to sportswriter insinuated questions is good to hear. PC & McKay wouldn’t take that from any of the press. LR has a confidence in himself what has to be done will be done. The question right now is how long will it take in his ability to overcome the obstacles to get there. He didn’t shy away from being frank about it.
What I really liked was his one word answer to the question what is the top priority on the defense? He said “tackling”. Yeah!
In a completely unrelated matter, Kershaw pitched today. It’s always fun to see how the greats go from their crazy talented prime to savvy grizzled veteran. Kersh can no longer just shove , but he is still super effective thumbing it up there.
Two BIG Conference teams that might sneak up on people and make noise- Rutgers and Nebraska. Rhule and Schiano are great coaches. They might pull some upsets, hopefully not vs. USC
Bruce Feldman on USC “It feels like a reset. I think It’s back to square one, at least perception-wise. They are in a reset. Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison covered up a lot of flaws. They were awful before they got there. “I covered the last UCLA/USC game before Lincoln got there (USC lost 62-33) and it was a mess. The culture of that program was toxic. When Lincoln got there, steps were taken, but there were still a lot of flaws within it that he inherited that were still there. “Caleb Williams’ greatness overcame a lot of that, but… Read more »
I like Feldman and trust what he says. He is nobody’s yes man with whatever is being said by anyone. I wish he would be more positive about this season’s Trojan team, but he gives reasons why he predicts what will happen. How soon Jen turns the sports department workings/responsibilities around to be more of an asset to LR’s ability to overcome present obstacles, how much improved the defense will be due to the coaching, the luck involved on keeping the team more injury free and win enough games to get some recruits to consider flipping on NSD. All this… Read more »
Under our last several coaches, I’ve learned to be much more patient with USC football. The Trojans are obviously quite a difficult program to correctly handle. I’ve said here many times that 2025 is the year I’m really looking forward to. This upcoming season which is nearly upon us will hopefully set the foundation and be a launchpad for a much stronger team up the middle that is better coached and better balanced. Sure would enjoy seeing our running game become tough and reliable again. Feldman’s a smart guy and he’s seen a lot of both USC and the CFB… Read more »
Colin Cowherd’s playoff prediction list Schedules make a big diff, or IOWA and TENN might be in these top 12. Top 5 teams feel better than everyone else in CFB. 1 ORE (B1G) 2 GA (SEC) 3 OHIO ST (B1G) 4 TEXAS (SEC) 5 ALA (SEC) 6 FSU (ACC, down conference, excellent staff) 7 PSU (B1G, easy schedule) 8 LSU (SEC, likes Brian Kelly) 9 ND (easy schedule, will come down to beating USC at the end in L.A.) 10 OLE MISS (SEC, a lot of eye candy, NFL QB in Jaxson Dart) 11 UTAH (Big 12, weak conf, edge… Read more »
5 SEC teams get in? Seems a bit much. In our dreams, the winner of the ND-USC game makes a playoff spot. Along with the winner of the Penn St-USC game is still alive for a spot.
I can’t understand any handwringing or worry about USC playing the B1G teams. USC has a positive all time record against all B1G teams USC has never lost to Rutgers or Maryland ( see what I did there?) Also never lost to Indiana, Nebraska or Northwestern. USC has double digit leads in overall wins against their PAC 12 opponents joining the B1G. Overall USC’s record against the B1G is impressive with Michigan State having the best record against them. I suppose writers giving big discounts to the prowess of the PAC 12 forget the B1G was eager to take one… Read more »
I would guess most of those wins over the Big10 were in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day in the old days. Usually a very good USC team playing a mid west team in January on a warm afternoon after they went to the beach, Disneyland and Playboy Mansion! This is not a very good USC team, maybe decent but not championship level.
As you point out, USC has generally had its way with the B1G over the years. Only MICH ST has even a .500 record vs us (4-4). But with all due respect, I don’t think our past performances vs the B1G will have much to do with USC in the B1G now. We’ll be playing B1G teams constantly now which will before long provide a much different sampling vs teams that generally have much bigger fan support (than Pac-12 comp) and are used to playing in more challenging weather. CFB has changed drastically and USC has to prove it has… Read more »
I did my best to add up wins and losses over the years against the modern BIG excluding the pac 12 additions…….and only counted the away games.
25-9……really good.
Against the royalty of Penn St, Ohio St and Michigan at their places…..4-6….still very good.
but as noted…..doing it every week with the travel, weird game days/hours and games in November….will be more challenging.
I’am sure Rialto knows this as he commented…..see what I’am doing….USC has never lost to Maryland or Rutgers because they have never played…..LOL….let’s hope that record of losses continues for the next 100 years.
Actually, one of our opponents that worries me this year is NEB (Nov. 16).
At least we play them in the Coliseum coming off a bye (but so are they). But I think the Huskers, generally viewed as the #7 or #8 team in the B1G, are a sleeper.
I think Matt Rhule is a good coach and so does Lincoln Riley. They are very good friends.
I realize most know all this but just to summarize: With both teams coming off bye……the travel for Nebraska might not be as much of a negative. They will also be home the week prior to the bye. Only a total 3 hour flight time to LA and they get to their airfield in 5 minutes or so. November in Nebraska, while it can be chilly, is usually in the low 50’s so if this game is in the LA evening the temps might make Nebraska very comfortable. They are used to playing in front of a packed big stadium…..their… Read more »
This is exactly what worries me about the USC team this year — our first line of defense.
DL NEB 5 USC 46
LB NEB 19 USC 36
But I thought the Trojans would be better regarded in the vastly reinforced secondary. Very interesting to see how Steele feels about it. That’s a publication that does an insane amount of homework per my experience.
DB NEB 30 USC 55
For Nebraska their success depends on how QB Raiola or their QB plays. Raiola as a Fr, highly ranked in HS, but the college game is a big step up. Rarely a Fr QB will kill it. Steele ratings are pretty much spot on as usual, but do not agree on 2 USC positions; DB should be 20, RB 25. QB Miller Moss must play lights out (like the Holiday Bowl), score points and be consistent. There’s a lot of talent on da O side. The Run game will be much better vs last year and maybe like Travis Dye… Read more »
Canyon, I agree…..their QB play is going to be very important. Depending on a freshman is shaky. I also think that DB 55 rating is harsh……and I was under the impression that we landed a transfer at RB that was a really good player. On the QB side…..my wet comment was meant for both teams…..if Miller can’t do it…..we might have a real steal with that transfer from UNLV. What Dylan does on the Nebraska side I think is in the hands of a coach I think is a good one. IMO it’s also somewhat about whether our front 7… Read more »
I wanted to chew on this post Allen by reading it a time or two. The concern seems to be centered on this current Trojan team able to hold its own playing a Big Ten schedule and not nevesssrily what has happened in the past with superior Trojan teams. By the way, we can thank Larry Smith’s coaching in losing twice to Michigan St. But we learned latter he had a slight defeatist attitude in more easily accepting losses. But anyway, I’m sure this has been talked about; yes we are going into a more physical league week after week… Read more »
I’m certainly no “woe is me” type, so I hope you weren’t referring to me jam. That’s never been my take, regardless of how badly Lincoln Riley coached last year. I’m a self-described “realist” who drinks the USC football Kool-Aid these days in much smaller gulps, especially after the Sarkissian/Helton flops and last year, as well as the infamous Cotton Bowl meltdown under LR. I’ve repeatedly said, over and over in fact, that USC will be good in 2024 and potentially great in 2025. I don’t think USC is currently a playoff team, exactly like 99% of the objective CFB… Read more »
Allen, the ability to run the ball is point 2 that I am looking for. That comes from my point 1, has Josh Henson developed the O Line group. Point 3, does LR have the discipline and patience to pound the rock late in games with a nice lead or will he be too tempted score quick?
I wasn’t referring to you as feeling woe is me in my post, it was targeted towards the thinking USC will wilt playing tough physical football each conference game and that alone will intimidate the outcome. Its hard for me to come to an answer what the Trojan record will be this season. I want to believe coach Lynn and his staff, who have NFL experience in physical defensive play the Big Ten patterns itself after, will condition, position & limit the opposition’s plays. As has been noted at times, the average scoring of LR’s offense versus what the opponent… Read more »
I wish we had open practices. It would be good to hear who is running with 1st teams, standing out, etc. I’m glad season is right around the corner. Our off seasons are exhausting.
Five Best NFL Narratives for Colin Cowherd’s The Herd — a show that is expected to suffer viewership loss through the rest of the summer due to the massive Presidential election absorption and coverage through early November: 1 Caleb Williams is an instant star and hits it big in Chicago 2 Jim Harbaugh immediately turns around the Chargers with a 6-1 start 3 Dallas Cowboys’ season implodes early and the Cowboys roll downhill 4 Cocky Aaron Rodgers returns to the Jets and crushes it, mocking the media 5 USC and Lincoln Riley beat LSU and MICH and the Big Ten… Read more »
Miller Moss seems to be a Trojan through and through, which is why he stuck with USC through these bizarre CFB times. Obviously, he’s a great kid with strong, well-developed leadership traits.
Moss says there will be a night and day difference between last year’s USC D and the 2024 version put together by D’Anton Lynn. Miller insists this new Lynn-designed Trojan D really makes him pay for, and learn from his mistakes.
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Looking at Jonah Monheim yesterday got me wondering about USC’s OL. I did a comparison with Ohio St.
# of players USC-14, OSU-19,
Avg Wt USC-311, OSU-307,
Avg Ht USC-6’5″, OSU-6’5″,
Avg Class USC-R-Soph, OSU-R-Soph.
So USC’s OL matches up with the expected Big10 conf. champ in size and experience but lacks depth and most likely talent. One of the things I’m looking for this season, is Josh Henson developing the OL.
Josh Henson has been a disappointment at USC. Let’s face it. That’s not even disputable. A lot of people wanted him fired, along with Bennie Wylie, another disappointment as the S/C coach. I thought Wylie was supposed to be some God of Strength and Conditioning when he was brought to USC. Now my question is, God of What? Nonetheless, I still have a lot of hope for both of those guys. What other choice do we have? None basically. Yet that doesn’t mean they both aren’t deserving of more chances to get it right at USC. I’m glad they both… Read more »