USC is sitting pretty at 4-0, ranked No. 12 in the country, and their offense is absolutely humming, putting up at least 39 points in every single game. Jayden Maiava looks like one of the best quarterbacks out there, and frankly, Riley’s offenses always do this. But don’t let those numbers fool you. Saturday’s massive showdown against Oregon isn’t just another big game. It’s the most important game Lincoln Riley has coached at USC, because it’s no longer about what this program *might* become. It’s about proving what USC *actually is* right now.
The Unanswered Question Lingers
We’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we? Back in 2022, Riley’s first season, it felt like a miracle rebuild. USC was one win away from the College Football Playoff, and Caleb Williams was set to snag another Heisman Trophy for their already packed case. Everyone was talking about how quickly they’d turned things around. Then Utah beat them 47-24 in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Caleb pulled his hamstring, and things quickly went south. They’ve mostly stayed there since.
The big question with Riley’s USC has never been if he can build an offense that hangs 40 points on opponents. If you’re still wondering about that after a decade of watching his teams, you haven’t been paying attention. The real, nagging question is whether USC can beat *good* teams. That’s the one that keeps coming back, over and over.
Against the Best, They Collapse
The cold, hard facts are tough to swallow for Trojans fans: under Riley, USC is a dismal 5-13 against ranked opponents. And since joining the Big Ten, they’ve gone just 1-4 against ranked teams in their new conference. Last year, they got to 8-2, rolled into Eugene with a shot to put themselves in a prime spot for the College Football Playoff, and what happened? Oregon beat them 42-27. USC kept it close for a while, even pulling to within a score in the fourth quarter, but then immediately gave up another score to the Ducks and never scored again. It *felt* close, but it never really was. You get that sense a lot with Riley’s USC: whether it’s the playoff, fixing the defense, or becoming the program everyone assumed they’d be when Riley left Oklahoma.
Getting closer isn’t enough anymore. When they lost the Pac-12 Championship in 2022, it was a gut punch, but the program was still “ahead of schedule” after inheriting a 4-8 team. You could believe the best was yet to come. Not anymore. This Saturday, it’s put up or shut up time for Riley’s Trojans against Oregon. It’s time to show everyone what they *actually* are.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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