USC Football's Playoff Hopes Will Come Down to Defense

USC football is 6-1 with a real path to the college football playoffs. Lincoln Riley has one of the top offenses in the country, but is the defense doing enough to help the Trojans compete for a national title?

Lincoln Riley took three different Oklahoma Sooners teams to the playoffs in his time as the Oklahoma head coach. Each of those teams lost in the first round of the then four team playoffs. 

Riley went to the playoffs each year from 2017-2019. His highest defense ranking during that time was No.32, his lowest was No.114. Each of those teams were led by a Heisman Trophy winner, or a Heisman runner-up.

Riley's teams have always had offense, but the defense was suspect.

For context, the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes won the national championship in 2023 and 2024. Both teams had the No. 1 scoring defense and were No.1 in total defense the years they won. Last year's winner (Indiana Hoosiers), was No.2 in scoring defense and No.4 in total defense. 

Going into week eight the USC defense is ranked No.80 in scoring defense and No. 62 in total defense. Even with the offensive guru that Riley has proven to be throughout his coaching career, does USC have a defense that can compete in the playoffs?

The USC offense is on par with the offenses that won the championship in each of the last three seasons. USC is currently No. 15 in total offense and No.20 in scoring offense. The defensive ranking is what holds USC back from having any legitimate shot of competing for a national title, at least on paper.

The first real signs of trouble with the defense came in a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers had previously lost to UMass. UMass only allowed 21 points to Rutgers, USC gave up 35.

The defensive issues were again highlighted in USC's 41-27 loss to the Oregon Ducks earlier this season. After tying the game at 27-27 in the fourth quarter, USC defense could not get stops when they needed them. 

The national media led by ESPN’s Paul Finnebaum called for Riley to be fired, stating that he was a “fraud”. Riley’s third year quarterback Jayden Maiava has since gone on record stating that he believes Riley is the best coach in America.

USC has had multiple defensive players stand out in 2026 with a few of them receiving national recognition. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri was recently named a Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist player. Freshman stud Luke Walfe was named BIG 10 Freshman of the week on October 5.

On the surface it looks like a typical Riley-led team. For whatever it’s worth, USC’s defense hasn't given up more than 25 points in their last two games. USC has also had defensive stops to help USC win their last two games against the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

For year five of the Riley experience, USC will need its defense to continue to play better to be a real contender.

As the old adage goes “offense wins games, but defense wins champions”. 

USC, who is coming off of a bye, will travel to Madison to play the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 24.