Lincoln Riley Closing In On Coaching Staff Addition
The Trojans are moving to hire a special teams coordinator from the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Allen Wallace — USC has made a lot of additions to their team this year, whether it’s from the transfer portal or through the high school ranks. The only coaching staff move so far this offseason has been the departure of defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who remains unreplaced.
Now, the Trojans are clearly closing in on making their first addition to the coaching staff of the offseason with Nebraska Cornhuskers special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler being hired for the same position at USC.
Assuming this hiring becomes official, it would mean Ekeler leaves after just one season in Lincoln — but it was a really impactful one. In 2025, Nebraska’s special teams took a massive step forward under his watch. The unit went from being near the bottom nationally, around 112th, to ranking in the top 12 in several special teams metrics, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
The return game in particular was a huge strength. Nebraska ranked 9th in punt return yards and 4th in kick return yards, with production that topped what the program had put together over the last several seasons combined. They also did a much better job limiting opponent return yardage and were more reliable in the field goal game.
A Return To Los Angeles
It is clear that Mike Ekeler can flat out coach. Ekeler has already been a special teams coordinator for five other programs. He’s been a special teams coordinator at Georgia, Kansas, North Texas, Tennessee, and Nebraska. It would also be a return to Los Angeles for Ekeler, who spent one season as the Trojans’ linebacker coach in 2013 under Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron.
Ekeler would be the second special teams coordinator to be hired after Ryan Dougherty was promoted up from analyst to the position in 2024. Connor Morrissette of 247Sports has reported that Dougherty is expected to be retained by the Trojans as an analyst/assistant special teams coach.
The History Of Special Teams Coordinators Under Riley
Riley has had a controversial thought process when it comes to hiring a special teams coordinator. During an interview with Trojans Live in 2023, he explained why he didn’t see the need to hire a special teams coordinator at that time.
“Offensive guys are doing offense, and defensive guys are doing defense. Special teams is typically somewhere between one to three periods a day, and there’s that one time where everybody is working on special teams,” Riley said. “The thing that I never liked about a special teams coordinator is that what’s he doing the other 75 percent of practice?”
When the limit for the amount of countable coaches was lifted by the NCAA, Riley responded by naming Dougherty to the position which will now be occupied by Ekeler.
Current State Of Trojans’ Special Teams Unit
Ekeler would be stepping into a fairly decent situation. As things stand, USC is returning their starting kicker from this past season in Ryon Sayeri. He had an excellent season in his first year starting by nailing 21 of 25 field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder in the Oct. 10 win over Michigan.
At punter, the Trojans brought in Memphis transfer Lachlan Carrigan. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt on 46 attempts for the Tigers last season as a freshman. He will compete for the starting gig to replace Sam Johnson, the Trojans’ 2025 starter whose eligibility expired.
Punt and kick returning has been a frustratingly non-existent factor at USC. Hopefully, that will change dramatically under Ekeler’s expected new leadership.
___________
TrojanDailyBlog members — We always encourage you to add factual information, insight, divergent opinions, or new topics to the TDB that don’t necessarily pertain to any particular moderator post or member comment.
SUBSCRIBE HERE TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF NEW COMMENTS OR REPLIES.
Coaches come and coaches go. It is the nature of the game, always has been. When one guy leaves, another comes in, we get a little different look perhaps. Sometimes it works to improve the system, sometimes it doesn’t. It seems it is only the fans that end up heart broken all the time. I take the coaching change can be a good thing if Patterson is all they say he is. So now we sit back and see what develops. I am still wanting Riley to succeed at USC.
Is Lincoln Riley a CEO guy? Brandon Beane, Bills GM, on hiring new coach — “We’ve gotta be careful not to just … this is a bigger job than just a play caller and a schemer. I think we’ve seen where guys have been excellent play callers, but when they got to the head coach seat, they couldn’t handle the adversity, the conflict management, all the things that … It’s a CEO job.” Colin Cowherd — “For the record, that’s exactly right. It is a luxury when you get a Kyle Shanahan, who’s a CEO and a great scheme guy.… Read more »
Curt Cignetti Lands Lifetime Supply of Beer from Indiana Brewery After CFP Title Win Timothy Rapp (B/R Report) — Curt Cignetti enjoyed himself a Hoosier Gameday Lager from the Upland Brewery after Indiana won the national championship on Monday night. The brewery responded by not only hooking up the Indiana team with some beer, but also gifting Cignetti a lifetime supply. “Coach Cignetti and his staff have ignited IU Football and brought so much joy and energy to Bloomington and the state of Indiana,” the company told TMZ. “We are excited to continue providing beer for the Hoosiers as they… Read more »
There is a rumor I found on UTube that if true makes me really pissed. There is a possibility Riley will let Defensive backfield coach Doug Belk go because the prospective new DC Gary Patterson used to coach safeties & corners and wants that gig in addition to DC. Belk has proven to be the only real asset on defense shown to develop his players.
Riley is such a loser when it comes to assistant coaches. Belk is the only defensive coach that showed improvement the last two years working with young players and a large class is coming in of freshmen to develop and what does Riley do? If you look at production results ( hello Coach Cignetti) it shows only Belk has done his job. I am trusting Jen sees what decisions her HC coach is making so it will be easier to bounce him out if the team doesn’t make the playoff.
If you can, read Scott Schaeffers at WEARESC,com column on what Gary Patterson brings to the Trojans. Very enlightening as far as defense is concerned.
I thought Belk was a great recruiter also. The last time the DC wanted to coach a position group didn’t work too well. Getting my degree in supervision at Mt. Sac taught me the supervisors aren’t supposed to be super-workers. How can you manage the whole group when your focus is one group?
Really excited about Ekeler. He has a great resume, and looks like a get in your face, ” Marv Goux” type of coach. Patterson is a hall of famer, but I have my concerns, about the game passing him by. He still seems like a better option than promoting a position coach with no experience as a Coordinator.
The thing about Patterson was he has been getting paid up until last year by TCU. He has not gone away from the game, actually he has had the great experience of bouncing around as an analyst seeing how others do things. I think we may be getting a very accomplished coach, and Ekeler is a top ST and LB guy.
You listen to what the CFB podcasts are saying about it today as Indiana won their first Nattie? It speaks clearly of how behind Riley has been in his rebuilding blunders. 4/5 years ago he should have gone heavy into local HC recruiting and not heavily into the portal. Today, those HS recruits would have been juniors & seniors of experience like what the top
programs have, older experienced players. But Riley now has a huge class of freshmen coming in with no experience and little portal help. Today it’s about NIL and buying experienced players.
Yep…..and when those kids get a year under their belts they figure out Riley, his hazy development program, and decide that the cash offered by others is attractive.
Husan might have been thinking……What the heck does LSU have that USC does not have…….LSU has Kiffin who built a nobody into a contender……USC has Riley who has invented a whole new book of excuses.
LOL…..The system has changed……for years the SEC programs paid everyone huge amounts in bags, cars, no show jobs for players and family etc etc…….now…..everybody else can pay…..and since……aside from the stupid headlines from the no idea media the highest per capital incomes by far are still in BIG country and the billionaires outnumber SEC folks by the bushel……well…..guess what happens….. A good example……Michigan needed a QB…..somebody called Larry Ellison and 13 million shows up for Underwood who was headed to LSU. Within a few days he is wearing Maize and blue. They will still win once in a while……but……USC, Oregon,… Read more »
They may have won several games by a coinflip but they won 9 games by 34 points or more. And that was with minimum talent. Miami had 37 four stars and 5 five stars on their 2025 roster. Indiana had 6 four stars and no five stars on their roster. In the playoffs they outscored 3 of the best teams in the country 121-46
Last night’s NC game was a memorable example of two highly powerful, well-rounded coaches with excellent game plans who fought tooth and nail for the championship. Those were definitely the two best teams in the country based on what I saw. IU combined a lot of relatively overlooked preps under the guidance of the miraculous team builder Coach Cig to remake CFB history. The Playoff system worked. Hoosier fans showed nobody was about to out-travel them, week in, and week out. It’s amazing what one man can quickly do for the worst program in CFB history. I wouldn’t believe it… Read more »
The way the B1G is spanking everyone, especially the SEC, it’s like the Civil War all over again. You will recall that the agrarian South simply couldn’t match the power of the industrial North, leading to a victory for the Union.
John thanks so much for all your effort. I can’t believe it even nailing the points. I never win anything. I would like you to donate my winnings to Solutions for Change. https://solutionsforchange.org
They do a great job of getting people clean, sober, off the streets and working. I will match your donation.
John, if you want to do the work I will certainly participate for the benefit of the cats and dogs. Thank you for what you did this year to keep us entertained no matter what you decide.
Congratulations to Coach Cignetti, his coaching staff, the players who bought in, the President & AD who made an intelligent decision ( not a decision to bring in a flashy name who turned out to be an imposter), and not to forget the long suffering fans of Hoosier football. You finally have your day in the sun shinning brightly. I don’t believe another team played as hard a schedule from beginning to end as Indiana and be 16 & 0. The nattie is well deserved and will be well remembered for a long long time.
That’s a good point regarding IU’s regular season schedule, including the B1G championship game and playoff run. This year USC has arguably the hardest schedule in CFB and I’m optimistic we can surprise one or two. Whats nauseating is Notre Dame has arguably the weakest schedule by virtue of their “independent” status, and will certainly be bull-horning all season how their undefeated, should be top 3, literally rolling into every game with a dbl digit spread minus Miami. Unfortunately IU’s historic accomplishment, withstanding such a rigorous schedule, will all be forgotten.
USC’s Heritage Hall decisional constipation regarding a DC continues. If Riley selects 65 year old Gary Patterson, it will be as one of those “consultant” roles”, not the defensive coordinator. He will be the voice in the coach’s meeting telling everyone that the single most glaring problem with the USC defense is the failure of long haired, fat man linebacker coach Ryan. ”Linebackers last year regressed. They overran gaps, chased color instead of leverage, failed to fall back when the DL slanted, took false steps, were late getting off the edge, caught flat footed in hook zones and did not… Read more »
The last “team” contribution by Rob Ryan was throwing down with his brother Rex Ryan in that videotaped bar fight at “Margaritaviile” in Nashville in 2017.
Still waiting for a USC DC announcement?
It appears USC is finding DC candidates leery to join Riley’s dog and pony show?
Whomever USC settles upon, the new DC needs to nuke Rob Ryan. We need a real linebacker coach.
The media has been spinning narratives about how a program like IU, literally the bottom of CFB for decades be transformed within two years to become national champions. Well, we here, experiencing a continuous HC and leadership crisis have a great vantage point, knowing there isn’t a narrative or spin to explain this historic achievement. it’s simply knowing, implementing and enforcing football fundamentals and discipline onto a team.
No X’s and O’s geniuses, no single position geniuses, no single phase of the game geniuses will bring a national title home. One day gents, one day.
Well I take a little vacation and the football world kept turning. I think Jen’s little black book of coaches has reached the last few pages. Also people are blaming Caleb when the receiver quit on his final pass of the season. I can’t believe the cruise ship didn’t pay the cable bill I didn’t see national championship.
This is beyond movie stuff. Coach Cig and his merry men, led byFernando, the wonder QB who, on 4th and five, somehow ran it in on a long QB draw up the middle for the winning score, bouncing through and off frantic MIA players like a pinball careening into history.
Fernando Mendoza is the new real life version of Jimmy Chitwood.
Hoosiers is such a classic movie. Dennis Hopper stole the show IMO as Jimmy’s hopeless drunk dad. What a flick. I can still hear the soundtrack in my head even though I haven’t seen the film in 30 years.
Screenwriter/producer Angelo Pizzo attended the USC film school.
but he needs more talent, facilities, assistants, cooperation, fitness, size, time, money etc etc etc to win.
Poor baby……naw……he just needs to know how to coach…..and he does not have a clue……although Caleb thinks he is number 1…..he kept showing him his middle finger
We’re watching something that will never be repeated: a total crap doormat program elevated to IU’s elite position in only two years (26-2 before tonight) by a crazy smart, confident and tough coach who knows how to install great culture and truly blend a team together. Even if the Hoosiers somehow blow this game in the 2nd half, they’ve changed the sport. How much do we all really care about recruiting rankings anymore? When you have a guy like Curt Cignetti as your leader, and the Portal as your backstop, prep star assignments seem suddenly out-of-date and much more unreliable… Read more »
The Miami defense is going to be running on fumes in the 4th quarter. The TOP is so one sided and those linemen are just pounding them with the running game.
and the hoosiers gets the ball to start the 2nd half…..
I hear you…disgusting dirty play…..on the other hand the refs handed us a 1st down that was one and a half yards short on the drive. They know who the good guys are……
Is it envy Saban always favors Indiana’s opponent? I am glad he favors Miami because is o-fer against the Hoosiers. Watch him disappear at the end of the game when Indiana thrashes the Caines.
Gary Patterson, the Prime DC Candidate Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — In speaking with people familiar with USC’s DC discussions, that longtime Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson is a leading option to be USC’s next coordinator. So, if hired, what would Patterson bring to the Trojans’ defense? For one, he has quite an impressive track record, starting with the fact that he’ll soon be in the College Football Hall of Fame. As head coach at TCU for 21 seasons, Patterson was renowned as one of the best defensive minds and talent evaluators in college football. Over that time, five of… Read more »
To me, the ideal situation would be Patterson at DC and Henny as the D-Line coach. Henny is kind of a technique perfectionist and that’s what you need on the D-Line. Patterson, like Buddy Ryan, is a innovator when it comes to scheme. He’s the inventor of the 4-2-5 defense that everyone is using today. The last 2 times Patterson was a DC was 1999 and 2000 where he finished 5th and 1st in total defense in the nation. Then he became a HC and he had a lot of success until he got into the big 12 where he… Read more »
If you’re a true up-and-coming star in college coaching, would you really want to possibly and suddenly derail yourself by lining up with a HC who is firmly on the hot seat at a blue blood program that has already been starved for success for many years?
That’s obviously a factor with some college assts and LR. Maybe that’s why Corey Batoon’s name has never been strongly linked to USC’s search.
This entire season I kept thinking…..one of these days the wheels are going to fall off at Indiana. They didn’t.
So…….in an hour or so……open those lunch boxes……drink the koolaid, hop on the tractor and crush these Mercedes Benz driving, wine and cheese eating turkeys.
There was a time, not very long ago, when USC fans dreamed of bringing in a true heavy hitter DC, and that would show USC had truly stepped up in class. USC’s expected new big-time DC was all the rage. We all incessantly talked about, and waited for Lynn’s uber-replacement, someone definitely from outside the program. Now, it looks like there’s just as much a chance that USC stays in-house, or brings in anyone, and I mean anyone, from the outside. Maybe it’ll be Gary Patterson who has been consulting on-and-off for four years after being forced to resign in… Read more »
Well……are we ever going to have a DC announcement. Just wondering.
As Sam Walton used to say…….you can sleep over in that trailer……don’t mind the chatter…..it’s just the rats in the ceiling. Think of Sam as USC and you as a new coach.
Hearing it’s today. Between Patterson and Henderson. Neither choice excites me, but at least Gary has been a successful DC in the past, albeit some time ago.Henderson’s unit was really a disappointment last year. I don’t know how that warrants a promotion
I keep thinking Jen has made it clear the DC decision is all on Riley. This decision will either cut his own throat in the 2026 season results or save his neck for another season. If this rumor is valid, Patterson or Henderson means what? It’s basically a comfort hiring that won’t get in Riley’s way pushing him with defensive side demands that will interfere with his precious offense? Is it the Helton factor that no one with a top pedigree wants to work for him? I can see Riley is backed into a tight corner that demands his program… Read more »
I guess if it’s Henderson nobody wanted the job so we’re stuck with a warm body. If it’s Patterson…..somebody that is friendly to Riley, will not undercut him and will be satisfied to make a nice check. His defense was complicated and his last years as a coach were unsuccessful. Personally, might be exactly what Riley needs….his Coach O. A recruiter with a tough guy personality. I don’t think there is a perfect fit but Patterson…… I will not be critical. Lets hope.
Another way to look at it is if it’s Henny, then the players are running the program because they are afraid that if they don’t do things their way then they won’t play for the new DC and some of the recruits may leave.
I agree Illi, the fact he has so much experience is going to possibly change the look and the play of the USC defense. If our position coaches stay they will all have stuff they can learn from Patterson, and become better position coaches.
It Sounds like Caleb flew like an eagle at the end of regulation, but crapped out like a wounded duck during overtime. Sounds like his USC days–frequently incredible, but occasionally very average.
I am rooting for Sam to get to the Super Bowl, but I am a Sean McVay fan also from his days at Marist School in ATL. Either I can’t win or I can’t lose, but I think I will go with Sam and the Seahawks. FTFO!
Yes, Caleb unfortunately when stressed seems to revert to form. Interceptions or heaves are the play. Hopefully the bears can get the talent to reduce this result. Some of it results due to play calling that puts him in difficult places…..however he still holds the ball too long….even when it turns out well. Either way he had a good year and so did the Da Bears. They need more talent. I am pulling for the Seahawks due to my 20 year time in the Pacific Northwest and Darnold being a Trojan. I became a fan during the CPC days in… Read more »
Turnovers and defense made the difference this weekend. Give Williams a few more seasons and he may catch lightening like Sam Darnold. I feel like Darnold is more of a Trojan than Williams even though he won a Heisman for USC. Just felt Caleb was just passing through. And the craziness of his second season starting with Tulane.
McVay must be given a great deal of credit for keeping the Rams focusing on the game and not on the miserable conditions. I though the Bears would have an easy time of it because of the “frozen tundra” conditions at Soldier’s Field.
Pattersons record as DC
1996 New Mexico…..not rated in the top 50 total defense
1997 New Mexico….rated 21st in the nation
1998 TCU…………….rated 40th
1999 TCU…………….rated 5th
2000 TCU…………….rates 1st
USC in contact with Gary Patterson about open DC job Pete Nakos (on3.com) — USC and former TCU head coach Gary Patterson have been in contact regarding the Trojans’ open defensive coordinator role, sources tell On3’s Chris Low, Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos. He was voted to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last week. Patterson is TCU’s winningest coach in program history and was voted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Lincoln Riley is in search of a new defensive coordinator following D’Anton Lynn’s departure for Penn State. Patterson was a defensive coordinator before his 21-year tenure as TCU’s head coach. Following his 2021 departure from TCU, he’s served in off-field roles… Read more »
After what 3-4 weeks of search, now they are talking to a guy who has been a consultant for the past 3 years. Sounds like a lot of coaches are turning USC down. Patterson would be a good catch, no?
Allen it wasn’t long ago that top DC’s viewed USC as a coveted place to land, with tremendous resources, a storied history, and the best high school football programs in the nation to recruit, literally an hour away ( Bosco even closer ). LR did so much damage when he allowed arguably the worst DC nationally to stay on staff and drive the program into the ground, pushing the Trojans to the bottom of the CFB defensive rankings. In addition, LR’s offensive style isn’t exactly kind to the defensive unit. It’s like he doesn’t understand the fundamentals of football (… Read more »
So after resigning in December AJ Tuitele LB, 3 games, 1 asst tackle entered the portal at the last minute last night. 4* LB from Tennessee Arion Carter, 6-1 235, is still in the portal unsigned, ’25 stats – 76 T, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced and recovered.
Graham was a 4-star signing day flip from CU to USC in Dec of 2024. The 6-0, 200 pounder also turned down home town MICH (Detroit Cass Tech) and was 247’s No. 236 overall 2025 recruit and the No. 27 CB.
Graham had 8 total tackles and 1 TFL in the Alamo Bowl loss to TCU and impressed with his aggressiveness and intensity.
Riley has had a controversial thought process when it comes to hiring a special teams coordinator. During an interview with Trojans Live in 2023, he explained why he didn’t see the need to hire a special teams coordinator at that time.
Coaches come and coaches go. It is the nature of the game, always has been. When one guy leaves, another comes in, we get a little different look perhaps. Sometimes it works to improve the system, sometimes it doesn’t. It seems it is only the fans that end up heart broken all the time. I take the coaching change can be a good thing if Patterson is all they say he is. So now we sit back and see what develops. I am still wanting Riley to succeed at USC.
Is Lincoln Riley a CEO guy? Brandon Beane, Bills GM, on hiring new coach — “We’ve gotta be careful not to just … this is a bigger job than just a play caller and a schemer. I think we’ve seen where guys have been excellent play callers, but when they got to the head coach seat, they couldn’t handle the adversity, the conflict management, all the things that … It’s a CEO job.” Colin Cowherd — “For the record, that’s exactly right. It is a luxury when you get a Kyle Shanahan, who’s a CEO and a great scheme guy.… Read more »
Curt Cignetti Lands Lifetime Supply of Beer from Indiana Brewery After CFP Title Win Timothy Rapp (B/R Report) — Curt Cignetti enjoyed himself a Hoosier Gameday Lager from the Upland Brewery after Indiana won the national championship on Monday night. The brewery responded by not only hooking up the Indiana team with some beer, but also gifting Cignetti a lifetime supply. “Coach Cignetti and his staff have ignited IU Football and brought so much joy and energy to Bloomington and the state of Indiana,” the company told TMZ. “We are excited to continue providing beer for the Hoosiers as they… Read more »
Upland is our local brew of choice.
There is a rumor I found on UTube that if true makes me really pissed. There is a possibility Riley will let Defensive backfield coach Doug Belk go because the prospective new DC Gary Patterson used to coach safeties & corners and wants that gig in addition to DC. Belk has proven to be the only real asset on defense shown to develop his players.
He’s gone.
Well-regarded Doug Belk won’t be returning to USC this season after two years with the Trojans. Many view this as a very significant loss for USC.
The College Sports Network literally ranked Belk, who coached USC’s safeties, as the nation’s #1 CFB recruiter. He’ll be missed.
Riley is such a loser when it comes to assistant coaches. Belk is the only defensive coach that showed improvement the last two years working with young players and a large class is coming in of freshmen to develop and what does Riley do? If you look at production results ( hello Coach Cignetti) it shows only Belk has done his job. I am trusting Jen sees what decisions her HC coach is making so it will be easier to bounce him out if the team doesn’t make the playoff.
If you can, read Scott Schaeffers at WEARESC,com column on what Gary Patterson brings to the Trojans. Very enlightening as far as defense is concerned.
I thought Belk was a great recruiter also. The last time the DC wanted to coach a position group didn’t work too well. Getting my degree in supervision at Mt. Sac taught me the supervisors aren’t supposed to be super-workers. How can you manage the whole group when your focus is one group?
Post from staffer on ON3 says Ekeler is on campus today at USC.
Thank goodness.
He is hired.
Getting reported all over as finally done. USC has also hired Ray Thomas to its strength and conditioning staff. He was with Carroll at K State.
Well, at least that area should be ok
Really excited about Ekeler. He has a great resume, and looks like a get in your face, ” Marv Goux” type of coach. Patterson is a hall of famer, but I have my concerns, about the game passing him by. He still seems like a better option than promoting a position coach with no experience as a Coordinator.
The thing about Patterson was he has been getting paid up until last year by TCU. He has not gone away from the game, actually he has had the great experience of bouncing around as an analyst seeing how others do things. I think we may be getting a very accomplished coach, and Ekeler is a top ST and LB guy.
I think a lot of people agree with you.
Also Patterson would be an outstanding interim coach when we finally fire Riley.
Deals with Mike Ekeler and Gary Patterson still look they are happening.
You listen to what the CFB podcasts are saying about it today as Indiana won their first Nattie? It speaks clearly of how behind Riley has been in his rebuilding blunders. 4/5 years ago he should have gone heavy into local HC recruiting and not heavily into the portal. Today, those HS recruits would have been juniors & seniors of experience like what the top
programs have, older experienced players. But Riley now has a huge class of freshmen coming in with no experience and little portal help. Today it’s about NIL and buying experienced players.
Yep…..and when those kids get a year under their belts they figure out Riley, his hazy development program, and decide that the cash offered by others is attractive.
Husan might have been thinking……What the heck does LSU have that USC does not have…….LSU has Kiffin who built a nobody into a contender……USC has Riley who has invented a whole new book of excuses.
Final AP Top 25 poll (three B1Gs in top five)
1 Indiana (16-0)
2 Miami (13-3)
3 Ole Miss (13-2)
4 Oregon (13-2)
5 Ohio State (12-2)
6 Georgia (12-2)
7 Texas Tech (12-2)
8 Texas A&M (11-2)
9 Alabama (11-4)
10 Notre Dame (10-2)
11 BYU (12-2)
12 Texas (10-3)
13 Oklahoma (10-3)
14 Utah (11-2)
15 Vanderbilt (10-3)
16 Virginia (11-3)
17 Iowa (9-4)
18 Tulane (11-3)
19 James Madison (12-2)
20 USC (9-4)
21 Michigan (9-4)
22 Houston (10-3)
23 Navy (11-2)
24 North Texas (12-2)
25 TCU (9-4)
Others receiving votes: Illinois 123, Washington 76, SMU 69, Duke 58, Arizona 54, Georgia Tech 44, Tennessee 10, Missouri 8, Louisville 7, W. Michigan 2, Wake Forest 2, Hawaii 1, Boise St. 1
I am amazed they put us above Michigan even though we did beat them ruthlessly.
The people at the NCAA are panicking. Their beloved SEC hasn’t won a NC since 2022.
LOL…..The system has changed……for years the SEC programs paid everyone huge amounts in bags, cars, no show jobs for players and family etc etc…….now…..everybody else can pay…..and since……aside from the stupid headlines from the no idea media the highest per capital incomes by far are still in BIG country and the billionaires outnumber SEC folks by the bushel……well…..guess what happens….. A good example……Michigan needed a QB…..somebody called Larry Ellison and 13 million shows up for Underwood who was headed to LSU. Within a few days he is wearing Maize and blue. They will still win once in a while……but……USC, Oregon,… Read more »
They may have won several games by a coinflip but they won 9 games by 34 points or more. And that was with minimum talent. Miami had 37 four stars and 5 five stars on their 2025 roster. Indiana had 6 four stars and no five stars on their roster. In the playoffs they outscored 3 of the best teams in the country 121-46
Last night’s NC game was a memorable example of two highly powerful, well-rounded coaches with excellent game plans who fought tooth and nail for the championship. Those were definitely the two best teams in the country based on what I saw. IU combined a lot of relatively overlooked preps under the guidance of the miraculous team builder Coach Cig to remake CFB history. The Playoff system worked. Hoosier fans showed nobody was about to out-travel them, week in, and week out. It’s amazing what one man can quickly do for the worst program in CFB history. I wouldn’t believe it… Read more »
I forgot to mention that they rushed for 300 yards 6 times this season and 3406 yards for the season
The way the B1G is spanking everyone, especially the SEC, it’s like the Civil War all over again. You will recall that the agrarian South simply couldn’t match the power of the industrial North, leading to a victory for the Union.
Final Bowl Contest Standings 2025-2026
Final Score 27 to 21 = 48 Tie Breaker
Names: Points
Golden Trojan 20 Won Tie Breaker 48 $125.00
Satyrdancing 20 $50.00
TommeTrojan 17 Won Tie Breaker 52 $25.00
Mrs Steveg 17
Trojan562 PE 17
Patrick9 16
Illinois Trojan 16
Plumb Daddy 15
BUS83 15
Steveg 15
Nick422 13
Dabrickashaw Ferguson 12
DubPar-McKringleBerry 12
Golden, Satyr, and Tomme check your email for a message from me on how to collect your prize winnings.
Thank you everyone for playing.
Any interest in a Basketball Tournament Contest?
John thanks so much for all your effort. I can’t believe it even nailing the points. I never win anything. I would like you to donate my winnings to Solutions for Change.
https://solutionsforchange.org
They do a great job of getting people clean, sober, off the streets and working. I will match your donation.
Golden……what a grand way to cap off the contest!……and congrats to you all the others that figured out the puzzle..
Lunch is on GT everybody!
You want fish tacos or carne asada fries?
I made the contribution that you requested and emailed you a copy of the receipt.
John, if you want to do the work I will certainly participate for the benefit of the cats and dogs. Thank you for what you did this year to keep us entertained no matter what you decide.
Count me in.
Congratulations to Coach Cignetti, his coaching staff, the players who bought in, the President & AD who made an intelligent decision ( not a decision to bring in a flashy name who turned out to be an imposter), and not to forget the long suffering fans of Hoosier football. You finally have your day in the sun shinning brightly. I don’t believe another team played as hard a schedule from beginning to end as Indiana and be 16 & 0. The nattie is well deserved and will be well remembered for a long long time.
That’s a good point regarding IU’s regular season schedule, including the B1G championship game and playoff run. This year USC has arguably the hardest schedule in CFB and I’m optimistic we can surprise one or two. Whats nauseating is Notre Dame has arguably the weakest schedule by virtue of their “independent” status, and will certainly be bull-horning all season how their undefeated, should be top 3, literally rolling into every game with a dbl digit spread minus Miami. Unfortunately IU’s historic accomplishment, withstanding such a rigorous schedule, will all be forgotten.
USC’s Heritage Hall decisional constipation regarding a DC continues. If Riley selects 65 year old Gary Patterson, it will be as one of those “consultant” roles”, not the defensive coordinator. He will be the voice in the coach’s meeting telling everyone that the single most glaring problem with the USC defense is the failure of long haired, fat man linebacker coach Ryan. ”Linebackers last year regressed. They overran gaps, chased color instead of leverage, failed to fall back when the DL slanted, took false steps, were late getting off the edge, caught flat footed in hook zones and did not… Read more »
Come on, SoCal, tell us what you really think🤣!
The last “team” contribution by Rob Ryan was throwing down with his brother Rex Ryan in that videotaped bar fight at “Margaritaviile” in Nashville in 2017.
Still waiting for a USC DC announcement?
It appears USC is finding DC candidates leery to join Riley’s dog and pony show?
Whomever USC settles upon, the new DC needs to nuke Rob Ryan. We need a real linebacker coach.
The media has been spinning narratives about how a program like IU, literally the bottom of CFB for decades be transformed within two years to become national champions. Well, we here, experiencing a continuous HC and leadership crisis have a great vantage point, knowing there isn’t a narrative or spin to explain this historic achievement. it’s simply knowing, implementing and enforcing football fundamentals and discipline onto a team.
No X’s and O’s geniuses, no single position geniuses, no single phase of the game geniuses will bring a national title home. One day gents, one day.
and we still wait for a DC……while Cignetti is being elected governor of Indiana.
What Cignetti did is beyond belief. A National Championship at Indiana? In 2 years? He is going to get a lot of coaches fired
LOL…..good point…..can’t imagine trying to defend a 5 year contract with little to show for it.
Well I take a little vacation and the football world kept turning. I think Jen’s little black book of coaches has reached the last few pages. Also people are blaming Caleb when the receiver quit on his final pass of the season. I can’t believe the cruise ship didn’t pay the cable bill I didn’t see national championship.
Sorry you missed it RT. Truly.
This is beyond movie stuff. Coach Cig and his merry men, led by Fernando, the wonder QB who, on 4th and five, somehow ran it in on a long QB draw up the middle for the winning score, bouncing through and off frantic MIA players like a pinball careening into history.
“Diving towards the end zone. Touchdown!”
That play might be another Bush push in history.
Does Maieva know that QBs are allowed to run in CFB?
This IU season has to be one of the all-time best stories in CFB history!
Without a doubt. I’d say it’s one of the all-time sports stories, period, Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoosiers! Just stunning.
Almost like the CFB version of the basketball movie of the same name.
Fernando Mendoza is the new real life version of Jimmy Chitwood.
Hoosiers is such a classic movie. Dennis Hopper stole the show IMO as Jimmy’s hopeless drunk dad. What a flick. I can still hear the soundtrack in my head even though I haven’t seen the film in 30 years.
Screenwriter/producer Angelo Pizzo attended the USC film school.
As much as I liked Hoosiers and as much as I hate ND, my favorite sports movie is still Rudy. Field of dreams was great too.
Angelo Pizzo was also the Screenwriter/Co-Producer for Rudy as well.
Another good sports movie was McFarland USA
Discipline, execution, toughness beats bigger and faster. Go Hoosiers, go Big 10!
Oh GT, your untrained eyes are showing….😁
And how much less was Coach Cignetti making at the beginning of the season than the intern we hired four years ago to be our head coach of ‘ball?
but he needs more talent, facilities, assistants, cooperation, fitness, size, time, money etc etc etc to win.
Poor baby……naw……he just needs to know how to coach…..and he does not have a clue……although Caleb thinks he is number 1…..he kept showing him his middle finger
Notre Dame’s not even the top program in their own state, and it’s not even close.
IU wins in an instant classic, 27-21!
Very good game, Miami played pretty well but Indy just a little better. Now what are we going to do??
Portal news, spring practice…maybe invent a drinking game for when Riley uses bullshit coach speak during any interaction with the press?
Go get your beer Cignetti……I salute you sir!
Indiana national champs……BIG takes it 3 years in a row!l
That is what they call a coach!
Miami is playing well…..we’ll see.
It’s anybodies game, as it should be entering the 4th. Could be a classic.
IU blocks a punt for a TD to go up 17-7. That’s why we need a great ST coach. It’s their 8th blocked kick in the last two seasons.
and for 4 years Riley could not figure that out…..
And how many times have long kick returns had a big effect in our losses?
I’ve run out of toes
Nice!
We’re watching something that will never be repeated: a total crap doormat program elevated to IU’s elite position in only two years (26-2 before tonight) by a crazy smart, confident and tough coach who knows how to install great culture and truly blend a team together. Even if the Hoosiers somehow blow this game in the 2nd half, they’ve changed the sport. How much do we all really care about recruiting rankings anymore? When you have a guy like Curt Cignetti as your leader, and the Portal as your backstop, prep star assignments seem suddenly out-of-date and much more unreliable… Read more »
Indy Star is reporting that the crowd is a 70/30 Indiana favored crowd….in the Miami home stadium.
Indiana = Bully Ball
Go Hoosiers! 10-0: 6 mins to half
The Miami defense is going to be running on fumes in the 4th quarter. The TOP is so one sided and those linemen are just pounding them with the running game.
and the hoosiers gets the ball to start the 2nd half…..
So far Miami is doing everything they can to knock Mendoza out of the game. Lot of questionable hits on him and nothing called.
I hear you…disgusting dirty play…..on the other hand the refs handed us a 1st down that was one and a half yards short on the drive. They know who the good guys are……
ESPN GameDay picks
DES — MIA
Nick — MIA
Marcus Freeman — MIA
Pat — IU
Indy is gonna kill Miami.
Is it envy Saban always favors Indiana’s opponent? I am glad he favors Miami because is o-fer against the Hoosiers. Watch him disappear at the end of the game when Indiana thrashes the Caines.
My wife sitting here and after Saban picked Miami, she said “Saban needs to get his head out of his ass.”
Talking heads still not believing in the Hoosiers. Amazing how far past reputation will or won’t take you.
Gary Patterson, the Prime DC Candidate Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — In speaking with people familiar with USC’s DC discussions, that longtime Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson is a leading option to be USC’s next coordinator. So, if hired, what would Patterson bring to the Trojans’ defense? For one, he has quite an impressive track record, starting with the fact that he’ll soon be in the College Football Hall of Fame. As head coach at TCU for 21 seasons, Patterson was renowned as one of the best defensive minds and talent evaluators in college football. Over that time, five of… Read more »
To me, the ideal situation would be Patterson at DC and Henny as the D-Line coach. Henny is kind of a technique perfectionist and that’s what you need on the D-Line. Patterson, like Buddy Ryan, is a innovator when it comes to scheme. He’s the inventor of the 4-2-5 defense that everyone is using today. The last 2 times Patterson was a DC was 1999 and 2000 where he finished 5th and 1st in total defense in the nation. Then he became a HC and he had a lot of success until he got into the big 12 where he… Read more »
If you’re a true up-and-coming star in college coaching, would you really want to possibly and suddenly derail yourself by lining up with a HC who is firmly on the hot seat at a blue blood program that has already been starved for success for many years?
That’s obviously a factor with some college assts and LR. Maybe that’s why Corey Batoon’s name has never been strongly linked to USC’s search.
This entire season I kept thinking…..one of these days the wheels are going to fall off at Indiana. They didn’t.
So…….in an hour or so……open those lunch boxes……drink the koolaid, hop on the tractor and crush these Mercedes Benz driving, wine and cheese eating turkeys.
The Cignetti Game Day Face — “Our discipline and our consistency need to be the winning edge”
There was a time, not very long ago, when USC fans dreamed of bringing in a true heavy hitter DC, and that would show USC had truly stepped up in class. USC’s expected new big-time DC was all the rage. We all incessantly talked about, and waited for Lynn’s uber-replacement, someone definitely from outside the program. Now, it looks like there’s just as much a chance that USC stays in-house, or brings in anyone, and I mean anyone, from the outside. Maybe it’ll be Gary Patterson who has been consulting on-and-off for four years after being forced to resign in… Read more »
Well……are we ever going to have a DC announcement. Just wondering.
As Sam Walton used to say…….you can sleep over in that trailer……don’t mind the chatter…..it’s just the rats in the ceiling. Think of Sam as USC and you as a new coach.
Hearing it’s today. Between Patterson and Henderson. Neither choice excites me, but at least Gary has been a successful DC in the past, albeit some time ago.Henderson’s unit was really a disappointment last year. I don’t know how that warrants a promotion
I keep thinking Jen has made it clear the DC decision is all on Riley. This decision will either cut his own throat in the 2026 season results or save his neck for another season. If this rumor is valid, Patterson or Henderson means what? It’s basically a comfort hiring that won’t get in Riley’s way pushing him with defensive side demands that will interfere with his precious offense? Is it the Helton factor that no one with a top pedigree wants to work for him? I can see Riley is backed into a tight corner that demands his program… Read more »
I guess if it’s Henderson nobody wanted the job so we’re stuck with a warm body. If it’s Patterson…..somebody that is friendly to Riley, will not undercut him and will be satisfied to make a nice check. His defense was complicated and his last years as a coach were unsuccessful. Personally, might be exactly what Riley needs….his Coach O. A recruiter with a tough guy personality. I don’t think there is a perfect fit but Patterson…… I will not be critical. Lets hope.
Another way to look at it is if it’s Henny, then the players are running the program because they are afraid that if they don’t do things their way then they won’t play for the new DC and some of the recruits may leave.
That is pretty much what they said just before another USC legend was hired…….Clay Helton. Let’s pray it ain’t so.
I agree Illi, the fact he has so much experience is going to possibly change the look and the play of the USC defense. If our position coaches stay they will all have stuff they can learn from Patterson, and become better position coaches.
Da Bears did what Da Bears do……
It Sounds like Caleb flew like an eagle at the end of regulation, but crapped out like a wounded duck during overtime. Sounds like his USC days–frequently incredible, but occasionally very average.
I am rooting for Sam to get to the Super Bowl, but I am a Sean McVay fan also from his days at Marist School in ATL. Either I can’t win or I can’t lose, but I think I will go with Sam and the Seahawks. FTFO!
Yes, Caleb unfortunately when stressed seems to revert to form. Interceptions or heaves are the play. Hopefully the bears can get the talent to reduce this result. Some of it results due to play calling that puts him in difficult places…..however he still holds the ball too long….even when it turns out well. Either way he had a good year and so did the Da Bears. They need more talent. I am pulling for the Seahawks due to my 20 year time in the Pacific Northwest and Darnold being a Trojan. I became a fan during the CPC days in… Read more »
Turnovers and defense made the difference this weekend. Give Williams a few more seasons and he may catch lightening like Sam Darnold. I feel like Darnold is more of a Trojan than Williams even though he won a Heisman for USC. Just felt Caleb was just passing through. And the craziness of his second season starting with Tulane.
McVay must be given a great deal of credit for keeping the Rams focusing on the game and not on the miserable conditions. I though the Bears would have an easy time of it because of the “frozen tundra” conditions at Soldier’s Field.
I think we should go for Corey Batoon from Missouri for DC
Caleb’s at it again!
Caleb makes unbelievable TD throw to tie the Rams 17-17 with 18 seconds left in the game.
Cris Collinsworth says, “In all my days, I have never seen anything like that, and I’ve been around football all my life.”
Pattersons record as DC
1996 New Mexico…..not rated in the top 50 total defense
1997 New Mexico….rated 21st in the nation
1998 TCU…………….rated 40th
1999 TCU…………….rated 5th
2000 TCU…………….rates 1st
That shows Patterson is good enough with the players to produce the best in the nation.
USC in contact with Gary Patterson about open DC job Pete Nakos (on3.com) — USC and former TCU head coach Gary Patterson have been in contact regarding the Trojans’ open defensive coordinator role, sources tell On3’s Chris Low, Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos. He was voted to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last week. Patterson is TCU’s winningest coach in program history and was voted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Lincoln Riley is in search of a new defensive coordinator following D’Anton Lynn’s departure for Penn State. Patterson was a defensive coordinator before his 21-year tenure as TCU’s head coach. Following his 2021 departure from TCU, he’s served in off-field roles… Read more »
After what 3-4 weeks of search, now they are talking to a guy who has been a consultant for the past 3 years. Sounds like a lot of coaches are turning USC down. Patterson would be a good catch, no?
And still no official word on Ekeler.
Lincoln’s never been a quick mover. Sometimes, that works out well. Other times, the tortoise approach is just a bad sign.
We’ve still got a team to schedule, as well as DC and special teams positions to fill. Trojan fans have learned to be patient.
Not everyone wants to hitch their wagon to LR at this stage of his USC career. That much is obvious. But this can all still work out.
They are probably turning them down because they want to bring in their own assistants.
Allen it wasn’t long ago that top DC’s viewed USC as a coveted place to land, with tremendous resources, a storied history, and the best high school football programs in the nation to recruit, literally an hour away ( Bosco even closer ). LR did so much damage when he allowed arguably the worst DC nationally to stay on staff and drive the program into the ground, pushing the Trojans to the bottom of the CFB defensive rankings. In addition, LR’s offensive style isn’t exactly kind to the defensive unit. It’s like he doesn’t understand the fundamentals of football (… Read more »
Seahawks are in it against the bears….well I hope so.
Someone remind me…..where did Leonard Williams play in college?
Where are these guys? They must be hiding.
Sam Darnold (with left oblique strain) and Seattle just started vs the Niners on Fox!
Seahawks return opening KO for 97-yd TD!
So after resigning in December AJ Tuitele LB, 3 games, 1 asst tackle entered the portal at the last minute last night. 4* LB from Tennessee Arion Carter, 6-1 235, is still in the portal unsigned, ’25 stats – 76 T, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced and recovered.
BREAKING: Key DB Alex Graham re-signs with USC
Graham was a 4-star signing day flip from CU to USC in Dec of 2024. The 6-0, 200 pounder also turned down home town MICH (Detroit Cass Tech) and was 247’s No. 236 overall 2025 recruit and the No. 27 CB.
Graham had 8 total tackles and 1 TFL in the Alamo Bowl loss to TCU and impressed with his aggressiveness and intensity.