USC’s Riley Praises Patterson Ahead of "White Out"

The coach of the USC Trojan football team Lincoln Riley spoke to the press Tuesday about the upcoming game against Penn State.

The major questions around the USC football team has been the defense. Riley was asked his thoughts on defensive coordinator Gary Patterson now that USC is at the mid season mark.

Riley called Patterson “one of the best coaches in our generation”. He also stated that Patterson was “one of the greatest minds in football history”.

Riley came out the gate defending Patterson because there was concern about the retired coach who had not been a fulltime coach since a stint with Texas Longhorns and Steve Sarkisian in 2022. He retired as the head coach of TCU Horned Frogs in 2021.

Patterson is in the college football Hall of Fame for the work he did at TCU over a 20 year period.

On five different occasions Patterson defenses were ranked No.1 in total defense. Riley is hoping Patterson does the same for USC. 

So far this season USC defense is ranked No. 47 nationally in total defense giving up 348.8 yards per game. USC ranks No. 64 in points allowed and 76th in passing defense giving up 230.7 yards per game.

Against San Jose State, USC was winning 35-3 when the starters were in. When the backups came in they surrendered 23 points in the fourth quarter.

USC gave up 30 points to Louisiana and another 35 to Rutgers. USC starters played the majority of both of those games.

Patterson's defense stopped the Washington Huskies on fourth down to secure the win. The 21 points given up by the USC defense was too many points for many USC fans, which has Riley on the hot seat. This is even after Riley has gone 5-1 through the first six games. 

Against the Northwestern Wildcats, Penn State was only able muster 48 yards on the ground. That might make one feel optimistic about what USC’s defense might be able to accomplish, but not so fast.

Rutgers averaged 1.1 yards per carry against UMass. Against USC they averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

Rutgers didn't take UMass seriously and suffered one of their worst losses in program history. When they played USC, they took the Trojans much more seriously and it showed as they ran for 168 against the Trojans. 

Penn State is coming off of an embarrassing loss to a non blue blood program.

One should believe they will be taking this game against USC much more seriously, especially considering it is their annual “White Out” game.