Lincoln Riley so far has been unable to transform the Trojans back into one of college football’s elite teams. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)Bill Plaschke (LA Times) — As the fabled fight song heats up and the legendary gesture wags anew, let’s get one thing straight about what was once the Los Angeles sports landscape’s shining monument.
USC football has become a mirage.
The greatness is gone. The new tradition is mediocrity. The new heritage is irrelevance.
“Fight on” has become “Paddle on,” with each ensuing season an exasperating exercise in keeping that Trojan helmet afloat.
This is not opinion. This is not hyperbole. This is fact.
In the last 16 seasons USC has recorded double-digit victories five times.
During that same time span, Alabama has recorded double-digit victories 15 times.
In the last 16 seasons, USC has had one major bowl victory.
During that same span, Ohio State has 10 major bowl victories.
Since the departure of Pete Carroll after the 2009 season, the Trojan football program has been rocked by NCAA punishment, roiled by a litany of ill-fitting coaches, betrayed by a string of embarrassing losses, and generally kneecapped by its own hubris.
This was once the greatest dynasty in college football history. I know, I was there, and rarely has one team energized and inspired this entire city like Uncle Pete’s champions.
But watching video from those days is like watching an alien football team on Mars. The current product, with all its failures and excuses, is almost completely unrecognizable.
In the past 16 years, the program has dissolved into the equivalent of a mediocre wannabe that no longer competes with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Clemson.
USC has basically become the other USC — a South Carolina-type program filled with big aspirations but average results.
The Athletic recently ranked college football programs in terms of value. Despite playing in the country’s entertainment capital alongside the country’s most valuable professional basketball and baseball teams, the Trojans ranked only eighth. They were estimated as being worth nearly $1 billion less than top-ranked Texas, a school that plays in a much smaller market with eight fewer national titles.
Which brings us to the doorstep of another seemingly nondescript season, but one framed in a bold-faced question.
Lincoln Riley has to be better, right? He has to win double-digit games for only the second time in his four seasons, right? He has to lead the 2025 squad to a bowl game that isn’t played in San Diego or Las Vegas, right?
Most folks think Riley is not on a hot seat because of the untenable cost of his buyout, reportedly in the neighborhood of $80 million.
That better be wrong.
If USC wants to return to its former glory, Trojan administrators must hold Riley accountable for further tarnishing that shine.
In a billion-dollar industry, with a $200-million football facility currently under construction, USC cannot view its coach through a financial lens, only a football lens. They must insist that he win football games at a rate higher than, say, the guy he replaced.
Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Through 40 games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach.
Helton was publicly torn from limb to limb, yet Riley gets a pass?
Riley is 7-6 without Caleb Williams. He is 3-9 against ranked opponents. He has lost virtually every big game and blown almost every big moment.
If he doesn’t change the narrative this season, USC needs to change the coach.
The Trojans have stabilized their front office with sharp athletic director Jen Cohen and highly regarded general manager Chad Bowden (above). They’ve made huge monetary investments in infrastructure and recruiting.
Now it’s on Riley. And he needs to get it done now.
If Texas A&M can pony up $77.5 million to buy out Jimbo Fisher, USC can find the money to replace Riley. The cost is unimaginable, but the price of falling further behind in an evolving sport where at least a dozen programs have already left them in the dust is even higher.
“I give a lot of credit to our administration … because it’s very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats in college football,” Riley said to reporters Thursday at Big Ten media day in Las Vegas.
He’s right. Everything is there for him to succeed.
Take the 2025 schedule. It’s the lightest in years. The Trojans don’t play Ohio State. They don’t play Penn State. They don’t play Indiana. They play Michigan at the Coliseum.
Their only tough nonconference game is at Notre Dame. Their only serious hurdle on the road is at Oregon.
USC should hold Riley to a standard of 10 wins, which should make the Trojans competitive for one of the 12 playoff spots.
Certainly, that’s a lot of mandated wins. But at some point, the Trojan administration has to start demanding that they become the Trojans again, and that time is now.
They certainly cannot give Riley a grace period because he has the nation’s top recruiting class due to arrive in 2026. Riley has been here four years, the talent should be here by now, and he should not be allowed to hold the program hostage until his best class shows up.
Lincoln Riley during an impressive gut-wrenching 27-20 win against LSU on Sept. 1. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
You want to judge Riley by impactful players? Judge him by this year’s quarterback, Jayden Maiava. He is Riley’s personal project, having been anointed the starter without offseason competition from the portal.
Nov 23, 2024; Pasadena, CA; Trojans QB Jayden Maiava signals a play during the 4th quarter against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. USC won 19-13. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Maiava was both raw and brilliant last year after replacing Miller Moss, going 3-1 as a starter capped by a 17-point comeback in a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. He completed less than 60% of his passes in three of the four starts, and threw six interceptions to offset his 11 touchdown passes, but his athleticism is impressive and his arm is amazing.
It says here the new kid has a chance to be great. Riley can remind Trojan fans of his best asset if he can lead the new kid to that greatness.
“His arm talent, the decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special,” Riley said, later repeating, “He has a chance to be a really, really special player.”
And USC has a chance to have a really special season.
For sure. For real.
For the second time in 17 years.
latimes.com
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By all accounts, new strength and conditioning coach Trumain Carroll, whom USC poached from KSU, is having a massively positive effect on this 2025 USC team.
Bennie Wylie’s USC program lacked accountability.
Those days are thankfully over and USC’s players are now benefitting greatly in both size and strength from Carroll’s uber quick integration of his S/C system into the Trojans.
Hear this about every S/C coach USC hires. Let’s hope it’s true.
Still slightly cynical, huh GT? Not me. Not this time. There’s just way too much buzz from those who actually frequently see USC’s players. Plus, I figure Chad Bowden insisted upon and made the hire. In Carroll’s short time with the Trojans, USC’s players already look bigger physically and more defined. Is it a mirage? Is it just wishful thinking? Not from what I am hearing. If you don’t believe me, read this: Yahoo Sports Many questioned Bennie Wylie’s effectiveness during his tenure. USC’s 4th quarter collapses didn’t help his cause. Trumaine Carroll is a big-time new tone setter and… Read more »
4-star OL expected to spurn GA and Kirby Smart for USC Breck Kolojay (Bradenton IMG, FL, 6-5.5, 320) is one of the few remaining targets for GA in the 2026 recruiting class, but he’s trending towards Lincoln Riley’s Trojans for Friday’s commitment. Josh Yourish (dawnofthedog.com) — Breck Kolojay is set to announce his commitment on Friday, and the four-star 2026 OL recruit is trending away from Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. There is buzz building around Kolojay committing to USC over GA and MIA, and Rivals now has his prediction over 70 percent in favor of Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. The fight for… Read more »
USC Football held its first practice today at 7am. The 2025-26 college sports season has officially started! Enough negatives, at least till the first game. We are undefeated so far. I put up a new flag out front. Fight On!
New Flag
May she fly long and well! ✌
After reading the article I thought about the past 17 years and the brain trust at USC. I would point out that our current athletic director is only the third non-former- USC player since John McKay. It makes me think the administration at USC has bigger fish to fry than to worry about football. I had real mixed feelings about Mike Bohn, because he failed to fire Helton right from the get go, but also brought in a head coach who seemed to have a reputation. (Seemed is the operative in that statement) Who didn’t cheer when Lincoln Riley was… Read more »
This guy Keawe Browne that was supposed to be a silent commit to Texas is difficult to get a handle on. They say he might come to SC. The only big schools that wanted him was Texas and SC. If you watch his highlights he only catches one pass as a tight end. Mostly the highlights show him blocking or on special teams and also quite a bit on defense as an edge rusher. I can’t believe they are going after him as a tight end.
Trojan fans give some advice (and frustration) to Lincoln Riley — They just need to run the ball with dedication, that means 40 to 50 times a game. If they do that they win 10 or 11 games. — Be better in short yardage situations and better at running the clock with a lead. 1st downs are important when you have a 4th quarter lead. — Run the damn ball! — I would love to see a fullback set for those situations. Put a lineman in there to run it. Switch it up. — Being in the shot gun on… Read more »
Agree with every comment, including the Plashke reference🤣
“Riley got lazy with Caleb at USC.”
“Riley went Graham Harrell last year.”
The truth hurts.
Mike Leach disciple Harrell (once CFB’s next big thing) has certainly been around lately. After USC was done with him in 2021 with the hiring of Lincoln Riley, he lasted one year at WV and only one season and four games at PUR before getting the hook and he’s now at ABILENE CHRISTIAN.
OL Wingfield files lawsuit against NCAA in bid to play for USC Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — When DJ Wingfield picked USC in the transfer portal last January, it seemed like an ideal one-year arrangement for both parties. The Trojans desperately needed experience on the interior of their already thin offensive line. Wingfield — after two seasons at a JC, one at NEW MEX and another spent at PUR — was seeking to raise his profile in his final season of eligibility. USC offered him a clear path to playing time at left guard, as well as a $210,000 payday for his NIL. He… Read more »
The NCAA never misses a chance to stick it to SC
Unfortunately, still true. Corrupt, venal and Draconian when it comes to USC.
Thank goodness Todd McNair took the NCAA to the cleaners. Too bad USC couldn’t find a legal way to do the same.
It almost seems like the NCAA would rather pay the money than see USC succeed.
What odds do you give DJ Wingfield of playing this fall?
Scott Schrader (WeAreSC.com) — Last time I checked about DJ Winfield the odds were 50/50 he’d be on the roster this season. He’s hired an attorney and he’ll fight the NCAA in court….so to speak.
Who are the most important transfer portal additions for every Power 4 team? Manny Navarro (The Athletic) — As camp opens, here’s a look at who we think are the most important — not necessarily the best — transfers on each Power 4 team. USC: Keeshawn Silver, DL, Kentucky — Lincoln Riley landed six full-time starters from 2024 via the portal, but few appear to be more important to the program’s immediate success than Silver. He is one of just two players on the Trojans’ front seven with double-digit career starts. USC’s 2025 Big Ten opponents and Notre Dame Illinois: Hudson… Read more »
Fall camp begins tomorrow for the healthy Trojans with the pressure on Lincoln Riley Nathan Fusco (si.com) — USC’s health is a major boost as preparations begin for a season that comes with high expectations. While the Trojans have the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, they can’t wait until next year to start winning. Entering their second year in the Big Ten, Lincoln Riley faces immense pressure to deliver, not just victories, but wins that truly matter. USC begins practice on Wednesday, July 30, and USC enters fall camp with mostly good news on the health front. At USC’s media day,… Read more »
Remember this? — USC beat up UCLA 50-0 on Nov. 26, 2011 at the Coliseum. The victory marked the third-largest shutout in the history of the rivalry. In 1929 USC won 76-0. In 1930 USC won 52-0.
Who could forget?
It was extra special for me. From 1962 to 2008, I attended 47 straight SC-UCLA games. In 2009 I was hospitalized and missed the game. In 2010 I had a bad cold and it was an 8:00 start in December. Since my streak was no longer alive, I passed.
So 2011 could have been # 50 in a row. Never figured they’d treat me to a 50-0 blowout.
Oh yeah! Barkley’s late 4th quarter TD bomb!
One of my favorite USC plays ever! 😂 ✌
USC coach Lane Kiffin hugs QB Matt Barkley near the end of the Trojans’ 50-0 victory over UCLA
That was in the 2009 game.
It was a beautiful thing.
Well, Plaschke sounds like the midwestern doubters I poorly described the other day. It’s been many decades since I’ve read the LA Times so I have no idea if he is normally objective or anti USC but it’s a shot across the bow from a local source. It’s time to show them. Can Riley do it…..Quite a few USC fans are extremely doubtful…….but……can it be done after his passing……definitely. In fact……Its probable….USC has too many natural advantages. Come on Riley……kick some ass and get those SEC types shaking again when they play us in the playoffs…..and if he should fail…..for… Read more »
Plaschke been known to rip negative on USC, and in particular overpaid Lincoln Riley many times in the past. This is very well-known and it’s often his reliable schtick, until he predictably decides to jump on the USC bandwagon when it’s convenient. Just ask Rick Neuheisel. But he would never level USC with completely mediocre, do-nothing B1G programs which shall remain nameless. He just wants the too often weak USC admin (like all of us Trojan fans) to start demanding that they once again become the Trojans who are credited with 11 national titles, including two in 2003 and 2004.… Read more »
Texas and Texas A & M have alumni that have stupid levels of oil money. Especially for football, it seems that the oil tycoons have a bottomless supply of greenbacks to throw at their alma mater for any problem.