Lincoln Riley Eyes First College Football Playoff Berth As USC’s Coach

Aug 01, 2026 05:00 PM - 1 hour ago 1

When USC hired Lincoln Riley arsenic its shot coach successful November 2021, the Trojans had precocious expectations. Riley, who had turned 38 2 months earlier, was considered the champion young coach successful the federation aft winning an mean of 11 games successful 5 seasons astatine Oklahoma. Now, Riley’s estimation has taken a hit, arsenic he has yet to lead USC to a College Football Playoff quality and faces unit heading into his 5th season.

Two caller preseason media polls conducted by Cleveland.com and seasoned reporters Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis each had USC predicted to decorativeness 4th successful the Big Ten Conference. If that were to happen, it would beryllium the Trojans’ champion placement successful the Big Ten since they joined the convention 2 years ago. They tied for ninth successful 2024 pinch a 4-5 Big Ten grounds (7-6 overall) and tied for 4th past twelvemonth pinch a 7-2 grounds (9-4 overall).

USC vanished 16th successful the last CFP rankings successful 2025 and mislaid connected the roadworthy to Illinois (34-32), Notre Dame (34-24) and Oregon (42-27). It past mislaid to TCU 30-27 successful overtime successful the Alamo Bowl. The Trojans’ only value victories were astatine location against Michigan and Iowa, which some vanished 9-4 and No. 18 and No. 23, respectively, successful the last CFP poll.

This season, USC has a much difficult schedule, arsenic the Trojans look the 3 teams classed supra them successful the preseason polls successful Ohio State (at location connected Oct. 31), Oregon (at location connected Sept. 26) and Indiana (on the roadworthy connected Nov. 14). Each of those teams made the CFP past season, pinch Indiana winning the title, 1 twelvemonth aft Ohio State won it all. Still, Riley said he is comfortable pinch USC’s position.

“Right now, I consciousness for illustration our alignment is arsenic beardown arsenic it’s ever been,” Riley said astatine the Big Ten media days connected Tuesday. “I sewage a awesome vantage constituent successful my years astatine Oklahoma what awesome alignment, what dependable activity really looks for illustration successful a program. I tin beryllium present coming and opportunity really for the first clip astatine USC I consciousness each of those things are operating astatine a precocious level and are very, very dependable correct now.”

During the offseason, USC hired erstwhile TCU caput coach Gary Patterson arsenic protect coordinator and Mike Ekeler arsenic typical teams coordinator, looking to statement up 2 areas that struggled past season. Ekeler was antecedently typical teams coordinator astatine Nebraska and Tennessee successful caller years, while Patterson hasn’t coached full-time since resigning from TCU successful 2021.

Patterson, who won astir 70% of his games successful 22 seasons astatine TCU, was precocious inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. But he is stepping into a challenging situation, arsenic USC allowed 5.3 yards per play past season, ranking 53rd successful the nation, including 6.8 yards per walk effort (48th) and 4.4 yards per unreserved (68th). When Riley coached astatine Oklahoma, he was undefeated against Patterson’s TCU teams, but he ever respected the seasoned coach.

“I’ve ne'er coached against personification that I thought was much unsocial and tougher to spell against than Gary Patterson,” Riley said. “I’m surely emotion his effect defensively. I’m surely emotion his effect of conscionable having a chap caput coach successful the building, personification other that has sat successful this chair and make immoderate of these decisions.”

Since Riley’s clip astatine Oklahoma, wherever he coached existent NFL quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, he has been known for high-scoring offenses. This twelvemonth should beryllium nary different.

The Trojans return starting backmost Jayden Maiava, who completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions past season. He was 2nd successful the federation pinch 8.5 yards per play and 5th pinch 14 passing yards per completion. USC besides has 5 starting violative linemen backmost successful guards Alani Noa and Tobias Raymond, tackles Elijah Paige and Justin Tauanuu and halfway Kilian O’Connor. And they person a brace of returning moving backs successful Waymond James (576 rushing yards successful six games successful 2025) and King Miller (972 rushing yards successful 13 games), who each averaged much than six yards per transportation past season.

USC besides has the apical freshmen people successful Division I, per 247Sports, including 5-star prospects successful violative tackle Keenyi Pepe and protect linemen Luke Wafle and Jaimeon Winfield and 7 others who are classed successful 247Sports’ apical 100 rankings. It was the Trojans’ first recruiting people since USC hired Chad Bowden arsenic wide head and Max Stienecker arsenic executive head of subordinate unit and shows that the programme still has clout among apical players.

Still, USC has to execute connected the section this play for the Trojans to proceed their momentum attracting talent. The programme has ne'er made the CFP since the format began successful 2014. This season, though, the Trojans request to make the 12-team CFP section for Riley to consciousness unafraid successful his job.

“The only 2 schools that I’ve been a caput coach astatine were bluish humor schools that person the highest of expectations,” Riley said. “Honestly, I’ve really not known thing different.”

He added: “Every year, I expect to win. I expect america to win. I expect america to compete for and triumph championships. That doesn’t change. I surely will springiness you what has changed. We’re much equipped than astatine immoderate pint successful the erstwhile fewer years. That’s not a dream aliases wish. Those are facts.”