Lincoln Riley’s Thursday availability painted a pretty clear picture of where USC is right now: the Trojans are getting healthier, younger players are moving forward in the background, and Elijah Newby is starting to make it hard to keep him on the sideline.
Newby, in particular, looks like a player whose role may be on the rise. Riley said there had been real concern that the linebacker’s knee injury in fall camp could have wiped out his season, but instead Newby fought his way back and has already flashed in the moments he’s been on the field.
His sack and forced fumble against Washington stood out as the kind of snap-changing play that can get a coach’s attention fast. Riley also pointed to Newby’s energy and vocal leadership, which gives him value well beyond what shows up in a box score.
That said, a bigger workload against Wisconsin does not necessarily appear to be automatic. The sense from Riley’s comments is that Newby’s opportunities should keep growing as his health improves and he settles more comfortably into the defense.
USC’s offensive line was another major theme, and Riley made it clear he trusts the way that group has been built. He singled out offensive line coach Zach Hanson for his steady teaching, his fundamentals, and the kind of continuity that has helped the Trojans absorb injuries without the operation breaking down. Even with replacements working on the left side, the line has still been able to protect the quarterback and open lanes in the run game.
That stability, Riley suggested, comes from the way USC has assembled the unit. Rather than depending on a wave of incoming transfers, the Trojans have leaned on recruiting and internal development.
The benefit is obvious: when backups enter, they already know the system, the techniques, and the people around them. They are not trying to figure things out as they go.
That point matters as USC continues to evaluate several younger linemen. Riley mentioned Keenyi Pepe, Breck Kolojay and Esun Tafa as players who are making progress, even if their names have not yet surfaced much on game day.
The message there was patience. Offensive line growth takes time, and being highly recruited does not mean a freshman is ready to jump straight into the rotation.
Size and upside still have to be shaped by technique, fundamentals and the college game itself.
Riley also noted quarterback Jonas Williams as another young player developing well. That is a positive sign, but it should not be mistaken for a declaration about USC’s future at quarterback. The update was about Williams’ growth, not a decision on who will eventually compete for the starting job.
USC’s trip to Wisconsin is also taking a slightly different path than its longer road trips to Rutgers and Penn State. Those earlier trips had the Trojans leaving Thursday, but this time the team is scheduled to depart early Friday and arrive late Friday afternoon. Riley said the travel plan was set before the season and is meant to keep the preparation rhythm steady.
He also had praise for Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, especially his defensive background and his willingness to adjust to the players he has available. That flexibility, Riley said, is part of the challenge. It is not just about identifying a scheme, but recognizing how Wisconsin adapts around its personnel.
For USC, the broader theme is encouraging: depth is holding up, young players are moving in the right direction, and Newby is giving the staff reasons to expand his responsibilities. The question now is how much more USC chooses to put on his plate.
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USC Defense Just Got A Boost It Desperately Needed
Elijah Newbys return gives USC a timely lift at a spot where the Trojans could use all the help they can get. The linebacker came back from a knee injury that was originally feared to be season-ending, and while his on-field production this year has been modest, his value has never been measured only in tackles or snaps.
Lincoln Riley has pointed to Newbys presence as something the team feels beyond the box score, especially on defense and special teams. For a USC group heading into the next stretch of games, getting that kind of energy and leadership back on the field matters almost as much as the physical boost, even if the full impact of his return is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
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Now a junior at USC, Abasiri has moved from an unlikely beginning to real NFL buzz, with early draft attention already circling him for 2027. For the Trojans, that kind of trajectory matters because it speaks to both his ceiling and his development, and it also adds another layer to a player whose path to prominence was anything but conventional. [Read more 🡒]
USC Offense Faces One Mistake It Can't Afford Against Wisconsin
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The Badgers have enough on that side of the ball to make life difficult if USC gets loose with possession or tries to force plays that are not there. Against a defense that can stay organized and capitalize on errors, the Trojans will need cleaner execution than usual, because one turnover or one bad decision could be the difference in a game that already looks like it will demand patience and precision. [Read more 🡒]