Lincoln Riley Says Trojans Are 'well-equipped' To Win Consistently

CHICAGO — The shape was group this past summer, and Lincoln Riley was a shot of nerves.

The USC coach should’ve been utilized to weathering unit by that point. After all, his erstwhile 4 seasons spent coaching nan Trojans had been thing short of a powder keg, filled pinch ups and downs, arsenic good arsenic a changeless undercurrent of hostility and uncertainty. But successful this peculiar case, occurrence was retired of Riley’s control. He wasn’t moreover near a shot field.

Rather, he was sitting successful nan assemblage of a section creation recital, waiting connected his 2 young daughters, Sloan and Stella, who were each making their solo dancing debut pinch their company.

“This was nan first year, stepping retired connected their own, nary 1 other to trust on,” Riley said. “But they told me, ‘Dad, we’ve sewage it.’”

Entering his 5th and astir pivotal play yet astatine USC, their begetter tin subordinate to that sentiment. While nan spotlight burns brighter than ever and nan corporate assemblage shot world is spinning 2026 arsenic a make-or-break infinitesimal for Riley, nan coach had ne'er sounded truthful assured that his Trojans had turned a area than he did Tuesday.

“I’ve felt nan unit to triumph each azygous twelvemonth here,” Riley said during Big Ten media days. “What does consciousness different is that I deliberation our opportunity to do that is greater than what it has been. It conscionable level retired is. The things you request to win, we person much of than we had successful nan first 4 years.”

Riley, of course, has made that lawsuit before. After each of nan past 2 seasons, successful fact. But it’s ne'er been rather arsenic compelling arsenic it is now.

As nan coach sees it, USC now boasts much extent connected some sides of nan shot than astatine immoderate constituent successful his tenure, successful ample portion because of bringing successful nan No. 1 recruiting people successful nan federation successful January. Riley besides added a Hall of Fame coach astatine protect coordinator successful hopes of stabilizing matters connected that broadside of nan ball. And 10 days earlier, nan programme moved into its new, state-of-the-art shot facility, pinch each nan amenities anyone could inquire for.

“It’s conscionable a culmination of each of it, you know?” Riley said. “It is conscionable truthful overmuch much well-equipped to triumph consistently correct now. It’s truthful different.”

That’s ne'er been a mobility for Riley’s offenses astatine USC, and this twelvemonth should beryllium nary different, pinch third-year starter Jayden Maiava returning astatine backmost and a two-pronged backfield successful Waymond Jordan and King Miller starring nan measurement successful nan tally game. The violative statement besides looks for illustration Riley’s strongest portion yet successful 5 seasons.

The doubts, per usual, are connected defense, wherever nan Trojans are not nan astir seasoned group.

“The full defense is conscionable very young compared to past year,” protect tackle Jide Abasiri said.

Riley is besides now moving pinch his 3rd protect coordinator successful 5 seasons. And 1 who hasn’t coached successful 5 years, astatine that.

Gary Patterson does person an awesome resume, pinch years of top-tier defenses astatine Texas Christian. And he continues to get rave reviews from Riley, who called nan Hall of Famer “one of one” connected Tuesday.

“You really person personification that is for illustration a caput coach successful that room,” Riley said. “The guy’s 1 of nan astir experienced, accomplished coaches successful nan game. Like, it conscionable is what it is.

“I deliberation conscionable my assurance level and, you know, what’s being handled, really it’s being handled, really we’re developing, really we’re utilizing our roster … is conscionable really, really precocious correct now.”

It amended beryllium astatine this point, considering each that USC has invested successful Riley and his full tear down and rebuild of nan Trojan shot program. Across nan city, advertisements declaring “THE TIME IS NOW” make abundantly clear conscionable really urgent this play will beryllium astatine USC.

At nan commencement of his 5th season, Riley is convinced nan Trojans are correct connected schedule.

“All nan things that thief you triumph are better,” Riley said. “And that’s gonna springiness america much chances to win. That’s wherever my optimism comes from.”