Lincoln Riley talks with his former DC Alex Grinch during practice in March 2022. Grinch now coaches safeties at WIS. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — When Lincoln Riley was hired at USC in 2021, one of his first calls was to Alex Grinch. The defensive coordinator had already helped turn around his Oklahoma defense, and in the process, the two coaches had come to trust each other. Their families got close. So when Riley arrived in L.A., on an early-morning plane that November, Grinch was on the same flight.
It turned out to be a rocky ride for Grinch at USC. He lasted less than two seasons and presided over two of the worst defenses in school history. But when the two coaches reunite Saturday at the Coliseum — this time, with Grinch wearing a different shade of red — Riley won’t be thinking about how things ended for him, less than a year ago, at USC.
“It’ll be good to see him,” Riley said. “It’ll certainly be unique, being on opposite sidelines, with all the good times and great memories we had together, all the years working together.”
The two coaches had worked together from 2019 to 2023, between stints at Oklahoma and USC. Plenty of time certainly for Grinch, who now coaches Wisconsin’s safeties, to understand exactly how Riley’s offense ticks.
“Coach Grinch has a good familiarity with what we’ve done,” Riley said. “But I still think the game comes down to players and who executes the best on Saturday afternoon. I think we’ve prepared hard, but we know it’ll be a good challenge going against a defense that he’s obviously a part of.”
Here’s what to watch as No. 13 USC faces Wisconsin in its Big Ten home opener on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PDT in a game airing nationally on CBS (Paramount+).
On the edge
It took new USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn all of two practices to figure out that he should probably try Eric Gentry, the Trojans’ freakish 6-foot-6 linebacker, off the edge as a pass rusher.
It was just that obvious to him. Even if it hasn’t always been obvious to others.
“He just does some stuff that you can’t coach,” Lynn said this week.
That stuff has been on display the past few weeks. Especially as Lynn has opened up Gentry’s role as a rusher off the edge.
Against Michigan, Gentry lined up for 26 snaps on the defensive line. That was more snaps off the edge than he had all of last season (24). He has 41 snaps on the edge already this season, tied for his most in a season at USC, and his 6.5 tackles for loss in that role are tied for the most in the Big Ten.
It’s clear, all across the conference, that it’s been a good fit with Gentry and Lynn. And Lynn still has a few ideas left to deploy with his suddenly dangerous edge rusher.
“We still haven’t used him in all the ways that we have in practice,” Lynn said. “So, there’s still more for us to do with him. And then, as the season goes on, as the package expands, I’m sure there’s going to be different ideas that keep on popping up each week.”
Life after Bear
Former USC DT Bear Alexander lines up opposite UTAH ST OL Teague Andersen during the Trojans’ blowout win Sept. 7. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)
Bear Alexander played only 69 snaps through three games, but his absence in the defensive line rotation does open up some important opportunities for young players to prove themselves in his place.
How that new rotation actually works in practice remains to be seen. But Abasiri will certainly have a shot to crack it.
“He kind of has that feel where it’s just a matter of time,” Riley said. “Because the kid is very talented. He’s a hard worker. He really seems like he wants to get this done — he’s just progressing really quickly. It wouldn’t surprise me if he works himself into an opportunity to help this football team this year. And regardless, he’s got a very bright future.”
Lake-less in L.A.
Lincoln Riley was just finally starting to lean into using the tight end again, when USC lost its leading pass-catcher at the position. Lake McRee is likely to miss several weeks with a lower-body injury, leaving USC with a litany of unproven options at the position.
Quarterback Miller Moss said Tuesday that he has “a tremendous amount of confidence” in both.
“They’ve practiced really well,” Moss said. “Kade had a great spring, and Walker has been doing really well since he got in.”
latimes.com
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Miami finally has a decent opponent and is struggling. #7?? They should drop after this game. 34-24 in the fourth.
3-1 UW at 3-0 RUT about to start (Fox)
Looking forward to the game, I haven’t seen a Rutgers game in many years.
I was astounded at how well Washington looked. The flight time was over 7 hours…..commute to both airports between 20 minutes to 40 minutes……3 time zone change……short week. Showers. If not for a few bone headed penalties Wash would have won the game going away.
Fisch looking like a quality coach that does well with lesser talent.
Lost my bet by a half point but ……..it was a great game.
Just got the feeling Rutgers was hanging on.
Great comment about the travel time and time zone changes, illinoisusc. When I first heard last year that USC was moving to the BIG, I had the same concerns about our players. The same can be said for the fans who want to attend an away game. It was an easy drive or even easier flight to get to Cal and Stanford back in the day. Now in the BIG, it’s going to be long flights and at least one change of planes for me as the closest airport to where I now live in retirement in Bullhead City, AZ… Read more »
I don’t live in Madison but have friends there. Grew up 90 miles away. For the size of the city you may be surprised at how cosmopolitan. It is the state capital. Growing like a weed. Very healthy. The university is on a huge lake and is a beautiful campus. Very progressive community if that trips your trigger…..not for me…..but it takes all types. As for travel I understand your concern…..personally it’s been a blessing. I’am too old to go to most games anymore but living in Indy…..ND, Mich, Mich St, Ill, Indiana, Ohio St, Northwestern, Purdue, Tenn, Louisville, Cinn… Read more »
That poor UW FG kicker will have to be re-named “Wide Left” after that tough night.
Three misses from totally makeable lengths, except maybe that last 55-yarder which would have sent the game to OT, but again it was “Wide Left!”.
He did not have a great night. I would not have wanted to be on that 7 hour flight, being him, on the way home. Hopefully he remembers his stroke when he plays USC.
I know it’s cold but I thought Grinch was throwing a gang sign for West Covina Big Dudes. I was corrected, that has crossed thumbs (?) He’s throwing the wieners hand sign. He was always confused about the USC hand sign. He didn’t know what two fingers in a V stood for because his defense didn’t have any convincing victories. Someone asked if I missed Grinch? I told nope I told them I do miss taking extra blood pressure medicine during the game and invited them to ask again the next time I see two defenders tackling each other while… Read more »
I miss Grinch like I miss a colonoscopy prep!
……or a proctology exam 
I thought The Grinch was signaling Open Wide, Down the Middle!
Grinch is coaching on the other side which means someone on our side should have a career day. I’ll go with Ja’Kobi catching 3 TD’s.
38-13 USC
I hope Moss runs the same play he threw the pick six last week. This time he stares down and pump fakes the short guy, the safety bites and he goes long to wide open Lane or Robinson for TD.
Speaking of Robinson, could he be used as a Tight End?
He was in high school, but he’s too light to block LB’s or DE’s right now. I do not think he’s put on much weight since being here.
Just imagine all the receivers out there and then throw in Duce at TE as a receiver. Poor Linebackers.
If 15-pt fave USC somehow loses to mediocre WIS in the Coliseum, the world of CFB will flip.
Lots of people thought USC would lose to MICH for legit reasons. USC has to beat the Badgers or the 2-2 season is basically toast and the Trojans drop out of the top 25.
Is “toast” too harsh a word? How about “burned toast?”
I get a sense that Wisconsin is like Michigan’s little brother. Not as big and strong but able to pass a bit better. SC should win this but not sure they will cover the 15. Hope for more than 50 total points
My Score Prediction: USC 35 Wisconsin 17
I am out there on the ledge, anyone want to join me with a prediction.
That sounds about right to me JW. ALA beat them 42-10 in Madison. ‘Bama’s better than us and we could only score 27 and 24 against both LSU and MICH. This should be a semi-angry USC team coming off a disappointing loss in a winnable game and eager to show itself as a PO outfit. I think we are, but there are a lot of potholes ahead that should prove to be more formidable challenges than the unimpressive Badgers are. They’re coming off a bye week, but half the time that doesn’t even seem like an advantage. USC 35 WIS… Read more »
The issue here is the inconsistency of LR’s playcalling & clock management, In two games so far you have to question his Thinking in time management and in the 1st half last week you would think it was more like Kirk Ferentz calling the plays than a Mike Leach deciple. Wisconsin doesn’t play at away games like they do at home so at least they aren’t going to come out here and steamroll our defense. If my memory is correct, Alabama threw on the badgers pretty easily. I will go 38 to 20.
Your reference to Kirk Ferentz brings to mind Austin Mock’s characterization of MICH and its victory over USC. Mock (The Athletic) — “Yes, Michigan just beat USC, but it passed for only 32 yards and won through big runs and a pick six. That’s going to be a hard recipe to sustain against quality opponents. Sure, the Alex Orji move at quarterback is best for the team, but at the end of the day, the Wolverines appear to be just a more athletic/talented version of the Iowa teams of the past few years.” Kirk Ferentz is the coach who publicly disparaged Lincoln Riley’s defenses at USC… Read more »
I’ll go with USC 31 Wisconsin 20. Just covers the over.
USC 42 Wisc 13 Remember we are going against a Grinch defense.
This is what it says in the Wisconsin Football media guide: “Alex Grinch, regarded as one of the nation’s top defensive and secondary coaches, joined the Badgers’ staff as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator.” I got a good chuckle out of it.