Can USC’s Lincoln Riley Win over the Trojans Fan Base?

The news that rocked the college football world at the end of the 2021 season was that Lincoln Riley was leaving Oklahoma to take the head coaching job at USC.

Riley left the Sooners with a 55-10 record and a .846 winning percentage. Further, Riley posted four 10+ win seasons during his time in Norman, Oklahoma.

In his first season with the Trojans, Riley coached USC to an 11-3 record. With a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, the Trojans earned a berth in the PAC-12 Championship Game.

But a loss to Utah relegated USC to the Cotton Bowl. It was there that the Trojans suffered the indignity of a one-point 46-45 loss to upstart Tulane.

Over the next three seasons, the Trojans lost 15 games and appeared in such post-season events as the Las Vegas Bowl (twice) and the Alamo Bowl.

Riley and the Sooners had lost 10 games over his five seasons at Oklahoma. Needless to say, the USC fan base soured on Riley quickly.

Riley’s record at No. 19 USC is currently 41-19 (.683 winning percentage), including a 6-1 start this season, and 2-0 in road games.

So far this season, it has been the perfect storm of veterans and freshman playing to and above their potential, on both sides of the ball.

With a talented offense, led by quarterback Jayden Maiava, the Trojans are scoring 36 points per game. Maiava leads the Big Ten in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Running back King Miller is second in the conference in rushing yards with 595.

However, the major difference for Riley this season is defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.

Under Patterson’s watch, USC ranks in the top 1/3 of the FBS in rushing defense at 111 yards per game.

Against Penn State, the Trojans allowed just 68 yards on the ground and 2.19 yards per carry.

Further, USC ranks among the top 30 in sacks (15) and opponents’ 3rd down conversions (32 percent).

All that production will be needed and expected over the second-half of the season. With five games remaining in the regular season, USC will play three teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

The Trojans host No. 5 Ohio State on Oct. 31. They will travel to No. 4 Indiana on Nov. 14, and will travel cross-town to UCLA on November 28.

After the bye week, USC travels to Wisconsin on Oct. 24. That is a winnable game, as is the Maryland game on Nov. 21.

The Buckeyes will present a formidable challenge as they are ranked in the top 10 in total offense and total defense.

The Hoosiers are a top 20 unit in both categories. If USC can win both of these games, or at least split one of the two, and then beat UCLA, that could get them to the Big Ten Championship Game.

A conference championship would put a smile on the faces of the Trojans fan base, and put Riley back into their good graces. A berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time under Riley would be euphoric for the USC faithful.