College Football2 hours ago2 minute read

Lincoln Riley Reaffirms Commitment to USC Amid Tough Season

USC head coach Lincoln Riley says he is in the right place despite recent losses and mounting pressure.

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Riley stands firm at USC

Lincoln Riley addressed questions about his future at USC on Tuesday, making it clear that he wants to remain with the Trojans. The head coach stated that Los Angeles is the right place for him and that he is the right person to lead the football program.

Riley noted that he has had plenty of opportunities to leave in the past. He said he would not have taken the job in the first place if he did not want to be at USC.

Questions about his future come during a difficult stretch in Year 5 of his tenure. Riley has not yet led USC to a College Football Playoff berth, nor has he won a conference championship with the team.

Results lag behind expectations

USC has made big investments around the program recently. The Trojans secured the number one recruiting class in the country this year. They also opened a brand new $200 million facility.

However, on field performance has not matched expectations. USC suffered a loss to Oregon in Week 4. They followed that up with a 24-7 loss against Wisconsin on Saturday. The 24-7 score was the lowest offensive output for any team coached by Riley in his career.

The Trojans currently hold a 41-20 record under Riley. USC faces a demanding remaining schedule with games against Ohio State, defending champion Indiana, and undefeated UCLA. The team likely needs to win out to change the tenor of the season.

Managing pressure and staying steady

Riley downplayed rumors of friction with athletic director Jen Cohen. Cohen did not hire Riley, and Riley was not hired by her. Even so, Riley described their relationship as fantastic and praised her as a tremendous athletic director.

Support for Riley remains inside the locker room as well. Offensive lineman Elijah Paige stated on Tuesday that there is nobody in the world that wants USC to win more than Coach Riley.

Riley pointed out that head coaches at major programs must deal with high pressure. He recalled his early days at Oklahoma, when critics wanted to run him out of town following a loss to Iowa State in 2017. He eventually won a Big 12 title and reached the playoffs. Riley explained that his job now is to stay steady through both good and bad times.

What it means for the next game

Ohio State Buckeyes at USC Trojans (College Football, Sat, 31 Oct): USC Trojans win 32%, Ohio State Buckeyes win 68%; projected score USC Trojans 23, Ohio State Buckeyes 28. Our safest pick: USC +16.5.