USC took a brutal 24-7 road loss to an unranked Wisconsin team, dropping their record to 6-2 and immediately throwing a massive spotlight on head coach Lincoln Riley. The buzz that grew so loud for Riley after conference play began? It just got a whole lot quieter, especially after an offensive showing that left everyone scratching their heads.
Colin Cowherd Isn’t Holding Back: “Soft Doesn’t Travel”
“I thought Lincoln Riley was going to work at USC. I thought Steve Sarkisian would work at USC. I thought Lane Kiffin was going to work at USC. None have,” Colin Cowherd said on Monday’s edition of The Herd. That’s a scorching take, and it cuts right to the core of the problem Cowherd sees with Riley. The analyst argues Riley’s pricey buyout might not look so pricey anymore, especially when you look at the real issue: his road record. “His primary issue. It’s not complicated. Soft doesn’t travel at home. They’ve been pretty damn good, but on the road, soft doesn’t travel. And Wisconsin was another example.” You can’t argue with what went down on the field against Wisconsin. The Trojans managed only one passing touchdown, coughed up two turnovers, allowed five sacks, and somehow posted a shocking -57 rushing yards. For an “offensive mastermind,” those numbers are straight-up embarrassing.
From Breakthrough Season Hype to Road Woes Deja Vu
Remember the hype just a few months ago? Riley had everything lined up for a breakthrough season. He brought back quarterback Jayden Maiava, the entire starting offensive line, and two star running backs in Waymond Jordan and King Miller. On top of that, he secured a top-ranked first-year class. All signs pointed to a dominant year. Yet, here we are, seeing the same old cracks. This isn’t a new problem for Riley, who’s now in his fifth season with an overall record of 40-20. Last season, the Trojans finished a dismal 2-4 on the road, with their only victories coming in a fourth-quarter thriller against Nebraska and a 33-17 win over Purdue. They dropped road games to Illinois, Notre Dame, and Oregon.
This season could easily spiral in a similar fashion. USC still has road contests at No. 4 Indiana and a massive crosstown trip to No. 7 UCLA to close out the season. Losing only one more game across its next four matchups against No. 2 Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland, and UCLA, Riley could match his 2025 regular season, potentially sneaking out of another year with no serious questions about his job. But that’s a huge “if,” and those upcoming road tests against top-ranked opponents are going to be brutal. Will the “soft doesn’t travel” narrative stick, or can Riley finally prove Cowherd wrong? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply