Lincoln Riley says the postgame flare-up with Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork was nothing more than the kind of emotion that spills out after a big game.
The scene unfolded after USC’s 30-18 win over Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last weekend, when Riley and Bjork got into a verbal exchange as the Trojans were trying to clear the field. Multiple videos that spread across social media show Riley attempting to guide his family off the field and toward the tunnel, only for them to be held up while several Ohio State personnel exited.
As Bjork passed by, he appeared to say something to Riley, and Riley shot back. The two then continued exchanging words as they moved toward the tunnel before staff stepped in.
Riley said Tuesday night that the matter was settled almost right away.
"Not an issue," Riley said. "Just typical emotions after the game.
We squashed it on the way up the tunnel. Ross is a good guy and a really good AD.
Just really a non-issue. "
He didn’t say what started the confrontation.
The timing of the moment made sense, at least from Riley’s side. The win over then-No.
2 Ohio State was the biggest of his USC tenure and could end up being a season-shaping result. After a week of questions about his job security, the victory had to feel like a release.
USC now gets an open date before heading to Bloomington to play Indiana next weekend, and after the chaos that followed Saturday’s game, the Trojans will probably be hoping the postgame exit goes a lot more smoothly this time.
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