Lincoln Riley’s latest shot at Oregon ended the same way too many of his biggest tests have gone at USC: with the Trojans walking off the field short of the standard he was hired to meet.
No. 12 USC dropped a 41-27 decision to No.
20 Oregon on Saturday night, a game the Trojans had at home and entered as slight favorites to win. The Ducks took a hit when star quarterback Dante Moore exited in the first half after a scary hit, but Oregon still found enough late firepower to pull away.
USC had tied things at 27 early in the fourth quarter, only for the Ducks to answer with two touchdowns in the final period and turn the game into a comfortable road win.
For Riley, now in his fifth season at USC, the loss deepens a pattern that keeps showing up in the games that matter most. His record against ranked opponents at USC now sits at 5-15, and he is 0-3 against Dan Lanning and Oregon.
That number stings even more because of where USC stood coming into the night. The Trojans were 4-0, quarterback Jayden Maiava had been playing lights out, and it looked like Riley might finally have the pieces in place for a real run at the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff. Instead, USC took a home loss to an Oregon team that had fallen on the road to unranked Oklahoma State just two weeks earlier.
The circumstances only make the result harder to swallow for USC supporters. Oregon won by two scores despite using a backup quarterback who had been on the bench all season. Raiola, a former five-star recruiting prospect who transferred from Nebraska this offseason, stepped in and helped the Ducks finish the job.
Riley was brought to USC to chase championships, but that mission still hasn’t taken shape. Under his watch, the Trojans have not won a conference title, and they still have not seriously threatened the CFP picture.
His own words from a July interview with ESPN may end up drawing more attention if this season starts to slide.
"Frankly, I think that's why [USC] needed somebody like me," Riley told ESPN in July. "This wasn't going to turn around without some bumps along the way, especially just how scrutinized and the expectations are at a place like this."
Riley also carries a massive salary, making $11.5 million annually, which places him sixth among college football head coaches.
In Other News...
USC Is Hiding A Coliseum Twist Before Oregon Arrives
With Oregon coming to the Coliseum, one small pregame detail has become a talking point around USC: the tunnel captain has not been announced yet. The Trojans usually reveal that honor a few days before kickoff, so the silence has only added to the buzz around who will lead the team out for one of the seasons biggest home dates.
Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll are among the names drawing attention because of what they mean to the program, but USC has not made anything public. For a matchup with so much weight attached to it, even the walkout has taken on extra meaning, and the final choice should say plenty about how the school wants this night framed before the game even starts. [Read more 🡒]
USC Stars In The NFL Are Breaking Out And Breaking Down
Drake London gave USC fans a reminder of what elite receiver play can look like on a big stage Thursday night, hauling in nine passes for 194 yards against Green Bay. The former Trojans standout has continued to grow into a featured role with the Atlanta Falcons, and nights like this only deepen the sense that USCs receiver pipeline is producing players who can make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Elsewhere, the picture around USC alums is a little less celebratory. Baltimore Ravens rookie JaKobi Lane is on injured reserve after breaking his wrist in his NFL debut, while Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is working through a minor hamstring injury that could sideline him on a week-to-week basis. For a program that prides itself on sending stars to Sundays, the early-season snapshot is a mix of breakout production and the kind of health issues that can interrupt even the most promising start. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Rutgers Rotation Revealed A Troubling Depth Issue
USCs trip to Rutgers offered a clear look at how thin the roster has become in spots. The Trojans leaned on a season-low 60 players, with a wide spread in usage that reflected how much the staff had to press the available group into service. Desman Stephens II and Prophet Brown each logged 74 snaps, while Josiah Jefferson and Marquis Gallegos saw just one apiece in a game where the rotation was anything but normal.
The numbers also underscored how many bodies USC was already missing. Fourteen players were out because of injuries or were not dressed, and three more were injured and did not finish the game, leaving no one to return from injury or make a season debut. On the flip side, 13 players hit or matched career highs in total snap counts, a reminder that the Trojans are asking a lot from the same core as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]