USCs Lincoln Riley cant handle winning right…
Lincoln Riley couldn’t help himself.
The beleaguered USC coach had been so measured, so calm, so restrained in his interplay with reporters after this monumental triumph when he had every right not to be.
Then got here a last query about a pathway current to the College Football Playoff and the Trojans having a likelihood to do what they’d needed coming into this pivotal season.
USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches during an NCAA soccer sport against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. USA TODAY Network via GWN Connect
That’s when Riley made like Mark Bowman on the third-quarter play in which the tight end spectacularly hurdled an Ohio State defender and broke a number of tackles during the Trojans’ 30-18 victory over the second-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday night time at the Coliseum.
Given an opening, there was no stopping Riley now.
“Say that louder for the people in the back,” Riley said, attempting to be cute about making sure that everybody may hear. “Yeah – hell yeah it does. Again, I keep saying, look at all the craziness across the country. The teams that just hang in there, keep going, get better, stay together are going to be the ones that are there in the end, so that’s the nature of it.”
Riley wasn’t executed. Far from it.
When a staff publicist thanked Riley, quarterback Jayden Maiava and defensive deal with Alex VanSumeren – in essence excusing them to depart – Riley pulled out a piece of paper with ready notes.
“I’ve got one other thing I want to say here,” Riley said, glancing at the paper. “I just took a second, I wanted to make sure I articulated my thoughts.”
Oh, this must be attention-grabbing.
USC linebacker Desman Stephens II (8), defensive end Zuriah Fisher (18) and security Christian Pierce (6) have fun a turnover on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. USA TODAY Network via GWN Connect
“This program is built on internal joy, not external applause,” Riley continued after initially stumbling over his phrases. “This win’s for all the workers members, the gamers, the leaders, the admin, all the people within the partitions. I said before this sport that I’m the right particular person for this job and as long as all those people know that, that’s all I care about.
“I appreciate being a part of this university and all it does and I appreciate our kids and our staff and I’m going to continue to Fight On because that’s what being a Trojan is all about.”
And with that, Riley received up to depart.
The speedy takeaway?
This wasn’t a coach expressing gratitude as a lot as somebody campaigning to keep his job.
Ohio State Buckeyes working back Bo Jackson (25) reacts to a dropped cross during an NCAA school soccer sport against the USC Trojans on Oct. 31, 2026. USA TODAY Network via GWN Connect
A more assured coach would handle issues the way in which Riley had for most of his session with reporters. Answer the questions. Remain composed. Move on.
His Trojans (7-2 general, 4-2 Big Ten) had been smarter, more bodily – just flat-out better – than a staff that had been far more of a gold commonplace in school soccer over the last few many years than the Cardinal and Gold.
When his staff’s beautiful triumph was over amid a mild mist that gave the entire thing a surreal really feel, followers stormed the sphere to bounce around deliriously from one purpose line to the other.
Showing great restraint, Riley didn’t immediately lord any of this over reporters who had questioned him and taken shot after shot following that dreadful loss to Wisconsin last week that saddled his staff with a second loss.
Then he finally gave in to his own insecurity.
The reality is, this was a victory that may change every thing.
Or nothing.
As a lot of a monumental win as it was, it gained’t imply something if USC stumbles against Indiana or UCLA. A loss to either staff would eradicate the Trojans from CFP competition and places Riley back into the same precise spot he was just a week in the past.
Those video games being on the highway ought to make USC followers particularly doubtful that the Trojans can win both given Riley’s repeated struggles away from the Coliseum.
But those are issues for another day.
On Saturday, it was time to give Riley and his staff a load of credit.
This was a great triumph, even if it got here against a staff with a backup quarterback who barely accomplished 50% of his passes, not to point out some questionable game-planning from coach Ryan Day.
From the second play from scrimmage, when USC’s Trent Mosley caught a short cross and ran a long method on a 69-yard landing, the Trojans owned the joint.
“It was huge,” Riley said. “You grab momentum right away, the crowd went nuts.”
They stored going loopy as the Trojans stored building their lead and the Buckeyes stored getting held to subject targets.
A USC protection that has been maligned for months held firm after Ohio State had first and purpose with only inches to go, limiting the Buckeyes to another subject purpose.
“That’s a grit play, that’s a toughness deal, a mindset thing,” VanSumeren said.
It’s also the type of factor USC has executed far too hardly ever this season, main to reputable questions about grit and toughness.
Do you actually trust a staff that misplaced to Oregon at home and Wisconsin on the highway – while also barely beating Rutgers and Washington – to win out?
If the Trojans can keep taking part in like they did Saturday, perhaps Riley’s right.
USC might be there at the end and taking part in in the CFP, assuring its coach of maintaining his job at the place he retains saying he desires to be.
Hey, coach, we heard you. Nothing left wants to be said. Just get it executed.
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, fastidiously curated to keep you informed.
