Lincoln Riley’s Challenging Journey with USC Trojans

Lincoln Riley’s time leading the USC Trojans has been anything but straightforward. When he stepped into the role before the 2022 season, there were high hopes based on his impressive credentials. Riley’s track record with the Oklahoma Sooners includes a 55-10 overall record and a 33-7 record in conference play. He also guided the team to four New Year’s Six bowl games and won 12 games three years in a row.

In 2022, the Trojans narrowly missed a playoff opportunity, hindered by an injury to Caleb Williams during the Pac-12 Championship Game. However, the team hasn’t come close to entering the expanded playoff field since then. Fast forward to 2026, and Riley faces a crucial season.

The USC athletic department is now in sync under General Manager Chad Bowden, and their NIL program has secured the top recruiting class in the country. Despite this, the schedule remains challenging, and patience within the fanbase is dwindling.

Riley remains optimistic. At the Big Ten meetings, he expressed tangible differences in the program: “The program has made progress not only in talent acquisition but also in teaching players to win,” he stated, according to CBS Sports. Riley emphasized that the team has made significant strides both on and off the field.

“I’m a much better coach now than I was at Oklahoma,” Riley remarked. He added that although he averaged around 11 wins annually at Oklahoma, he’s yet to achieve that at USC. Yet, he believes the Trojans are “close” and that minor adjustments could have altered their playoff chances.

Riley’s sentiments include learning from the past and feeling ready: “We were close last year, literally snaps away from being right in it. We have undeniably taken steps. Now, it’s time to execute.” He confidently stated that the program is prepared for success.

The Trojans had chances against teams like Illinois and Notre Dame but fell short in key moments. Overall, elite teams manage to seize these opportunities, which has so far eluded USC. Additionally, they were outplayed by the Oregon Ducks in Eugene.

Many USC supporters direct criticism toward Riley for some strategic decisions, like a risky trick play leading to a fumble against Notre Dame. Despite no match-up with Notre Dame this season, challenges remain with games against Indiana, Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and Wisconsin on the schedule.

Winning nine games could still be considered a successful season, but if Riley has truly advanced as head coach, achieving ten wins and reaching the playoffs is crucial. Otherwise, questions about Riley’s future will intensify quickly.

Ian Miller, a writer at OutKick, highlights these challenges as a defining moment in Riley’s coaching career.