Under Curt Cignetti, Indiana has done more than just win - they've turned heads. The Hoosiers’ rise under his leadership has sparked real conversations about their potential to chase a national title.
But when it comes to raw roster talent, it’s USC that might be holding the trump card. The Trojans are stacked, and by most accounts, they’ll be fielding their strongest team yet under Lincoln Riley.
The question is: can that talent finally translate into results when it matters most?
That’s the puzzle national analyst Josh Pate is trying to solve. He didn’t place USC among the top-tier title favorites, and there’s a reason for that.
Despite Riley’s consistent success in recruiting and his dominance in the transfer portal, the on-field product hasn’t always lived up to the hype. The Trojans have had the pieces - big names, big plays - but they’ve struggled to put it all together when the spotlight is brightest.
Pate summed it up with a pointed question: “USC, you have the whole Lincoln Riley conundrum. Can he or can’t he?
Are they tough enough? Are they going to get over the hump?”
That’s the heart of it. The Trojans have the roster, but do they have the grit?
Do they have the edge that separates playoff hopefuls from actual contenders?
Still, Pate isn’t counting them out. In fact, he made it clear that USC, with its current roster, can’t be ignored.
“It’s USC, you can’t leave them out of your bubble,” he said. And he’s right.
This version of the Trojans - deep, experienced, and loaded with high-end talent - is built to compete at the highest level. But now it’s on Riley to prove that he can take them there.
The pressure is real. Riley has been given every opportunity to build a winner in Los Angeles.
He’s brought in elite talent year after year, and he’s won the offseason more times than not. But now, it’s about what happens on Saturdays.
The expectations are no longer about potential - they’re about performance.
Meanwhile, what Cignetti has done at Indiana only raises the bar across the board. His ability to build a championship-caliber team out of overlooked and under-recruited players has shifted the narrative. If Indiana can do it with less, then surely a program like USC, with all its resources and star power, should be in the mix.
That’s why this upcoming season is so pivotal for Riley. At 42, he’s still considered one of the brightest offensive minds in college football.
But the time for moral victories and “almosts” is over. USC doesn’t necessarily need a national title this year - but a playoff berth?
That’s the baseline now. Anything less, and the questions about Riley’s future will only grow louder.
The Trojans have the roster. They have the brand.
And now, they have the pressure. It’s up to Lincoln Riley to show that all the pieces can finally come together - not just in theory, but in the win column.