Mental Toughness Starting to Surface with USC Football

Currently on a two-game winning streak, the No. 19 USC Trojans battled in a close win at home against Washington, and kept Penn State out of the end zone when it counted the most in a win on the road in the White Out game.

At 6-1 on the season, the Trojans are starting to show the mental toughness necessary at all levels to become championship contenders.

From the veterans down to the freshmen, the Trojans have been able to dig deep and execute winning football. That will come in handy as USC navigates the second half of the season.

That mental toughness that is starting to bubble up at the top has been the catalyst for the confidence being displayed.

Against Washington, USC held the Huskies scoreless in the fourth quarter and only seven points in the second half in a 25-21 victory.

In the 31-23 win over Penn State, USC forced Penn State to kick field goals while they scored touchdowns, keeping the Nittany Lions on their heels.

The Trojans also committed just three penalties in the game, their lowest of the season.

On Tuesday’s episode of Trojans Live, coach Lincoln Riley spoke about mental toughness and his team’s confidence.

“Yeah, you're seeing us rise up in some key times here over the last few weeks and doing it on all sides and that's what you have to do,” said Riley. “You're seeing it with different sides of the ball. I think when you can when you can go in and have success in some of these moments where you've got adversity, whether it's a tough home game against Washington here or it's going on the road in front of 115,000 people, when you can go do that, I think the confidence that it builds within the walls that you can that you can continue to do that is there.”

The Trojans remaining schedule looks like this:

This is not exactly a cakewalk for the Trojans.

Ohio State (5-1) is ranked in the top ten in both total offense and total defense.

Indiana (6-0) is a top 20 unit on both sides of the ball. The Hoosiers have not lost a football game since their playoff game against Notre Dame in 2024.

UCLA (5-0) is playing far above their station under first-year head coach Bob Chesney.

The Bruins may not be challenged in the second-half of their season until they meet USC on Nov. 28.

UCLA has not had a winning season since posting an 8-5 record in 2023.

But first, the Trojans must get past Wisconsin. The Badgers (4-1) are 2-0 in the Big Ten, with wins over Penn State and Michigan State. Wisconsin lost their previous meeting with USC 38-21 in Los Angeles in 2024.

Wisconsin could give the Trojans passing offense, and quarterback Jayden Maiava, problems. The Badgers deploy a top 20 defensive unit in total defense, pass defense, and opponent’s third-down conversions.

However, the Trojans are playing their best football under Riley since he arrived at USC.

However, with three teams currently ranked in the top 15 still left on the schedule, that mental toughness and confidence will be tested.