No. 12 USC is set to host No. 20 Oregon this Saturday afternoon in Week 4, and for coach Lincoln Riley, this isn’t just another game; it’s a huge moment to prove his program can finally deliver when it truly matters. We’ve seen the explosive offenses and the incredible moments throughout Riley’s time at USC, but time and again, when elite competition shows up with comparable talent and more physicality, the Trojans have folded. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but a win over the Ducks could be the tangible proof that this team has actually learned from their past big-game mistakes.
Riley’s Tough Reality Against Top 25 Teams
Let’s just be real for a second: Riley’s career record against ranked opponents is generally commendable, but his success at USC hasn’t touched what he built at Oklahoma. Back in the Big 12, he was an annual frontrunner. Here in Los Angeles? The numbers against AP Top 25 teams are brutal. Under Riley, USC is a dismal 5-14 (.263) overall against ranked opponents. And if you zero in on the last two seasons against Big Ten competition, it gets worse: a 2-5 record. Just look at the breakdown:
- 2022: 2-3 against AP Top 25 (finished 11-3, No. 12)
- 2023: 1-4 against AP Top 25 (finished 8-5, NR)
- 2024: 1-3 against AP Top 25 (finished 7-6, NR)
- 2025: 1-4 against AP Top 25 (finished 9-4, No. 20)
That’s a trend that simply cannot continue if this program wants to be taken seriously. This Oregon game is the first of four remaining matchups against nationally ranked opponents for USC, with No. 13 Penn State, No. 7 Ohio State, and No. 5 Indiana still on the schedule. If they want any shot at reaching the College Football Playoff under Riley for the first time, they simply have to split those games without any other hiccups.
Is This The Season USC Finally Turns The Corner?
The Trojans certainly took some necessary steps this offseason to fix these big-game woes. They brought in the No. 1 signing class in college football, and that talent is already making a substantial impact. Plus, we’ve seen schematic changes defensively, which is huge. This weekend’s clash against Oregon is their first real Big Ten litmus test of the season. After losing to No. 13 Notre Dame last season, a week after beating Michigan, Riley said he felt like USC was on the verge of turning the corner in these spotlight matchups. He said, “We’ve put ourselves in position to win a lot of these games. You’ve gotta go win them. I get it. In your ascent as a program, that’s one of the last steps. Because it’s the hardest thing to do.” He’s right, it is the hardest thing to do, and it’s time to see if they’re actually ready for it. Oregon, meanwhile, just dropped an 84-point beatdown on Portland State after a “resounding loss” at Oklahoma State, so Coach Dan Lanning will be looking for his team to bring that ferocity to Los Angeles.
This Saturday isn’t just about a win or a loss; it’s about whether Riley’s USC program can shake off its past failures and prove they belong among the nation’s elite. The whole college football world is watching.
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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