USC enters its matchup with Ohio State with the spotlight locked squarely on Lincoln Riley, and the stakes around the game go well beyond the scoreboard. If the Trojans get blown out, it becomes very difficult to imagine Riley returning for a 2027 season, even with his buyout. The source frames USC as a program that would likely prefer Riley to move on, potentially toward the Baylor Bears’ head coaching job, if there’s any way to navigate the financial hit.
That kind of uncertainty is exactly why this game feels loaded. USC fans want a win, but a loss would make it easier to push the program toward a reset.
The source also points to the reality that USC has a chance to upgrade at head coach, but only after moving on from Riley. At the same time, a victory over Ohio State would not solve everything on its own.
It would only matter if the Trojans could then finish the job by beating Indiana and UCLA to reach 10-2, and the source raises real doubt about that path.
There’s also a recent memory hanging over this one. When USC surrendered 52 points to Washington around this same point in the 2023 season, the source says that was the moment Alex Grinch’s future as defensive coordinator was effectively over. The question now is whether this Ohio State game delivers that same kind of clarity about Riley’s future, or whether USC can shock the Buckeyes and stay alive in the College Football Playoff race.
Follow along for USC and Lincoln Riley against the Ohio State Buckeyes, with analysis and scoring updates from the Trojans’ Week 9 game at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A New Recruiting Concern After USC Upset
USCs upset of Ohio State did more than shake up the scoreboard at the Coliseum. It also gave the Trojans a jolt on the recruiting trail, with fans and 2028 running back prospect Malaki Davis joining the field rush after the game and leaving with a vivid first impression of the programs energy and atmosphere.
Davis, who spent time around the celebration and interacted with USC legend Marcus Allen, came away clearly enthused about the Trojans. The moment also arrived as Lincoln Riley tried to quiet outside noise about his future, issuing a handwritten statement to reinforce his commitment to USC, adding another layer to a night that could resonate well beyond one win. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Got National Validation For Its Biggest Win Yet
The win over No. 2 Ohio State is still resonating well beyond Los Angeles, and now it has brought USC another round of national recognition. The Football Writers Association of America named the Trojans the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week after the 30-18 upset on Oct. 31, a result that pushed USC to 7-2 and back into the AP Top 25 at No. 18.
It is a notable honor for a program that has been waiting a long time for this kind of weekly spotlight. This is USCs fifth selection for the award, and its first since 2013, which says plenty about how rare this sort of validation has been even in seasons when the Trojans have had big moments. After beating one of the sports premier teams, they have at least earned a fresh national platform, with the bigger question now being how much staying power that performance will have. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Made Its Biggest November Question A Lot More Interesting
USCs win over No. 2 Ohio State did more than add another marquee result to the rsum. It pushed the Trojans to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, with Lincoln Riley getting a performance that looked as complete as anything USC has put together this season. Freshman tight end Mark Bowman was part of the story, and Trent Mosleys 69-yard touchdown early in the game helped set the tone for a night that felt bigger than a single upset.
Ohio State still moved the ball on the ground, finishing with 204 rushing yards, but USCs defense tightened when it mattered most and held the Buckeyes to just one red-zone touchdown. For a team trying to sort out its November ceiling, that kind of response is what makes the conversation around the Trojans suddenly a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]