It’s time to talk about Lincoln Riley. The bottom absolutely fell out for No. 16 USC against Wisconsin on Saturday night, a brutal 24-7 loss that came after an open date and showcased an abysmal offensive performance. This wasn’t just a loss, this was a flashing red light for a blueblood program that should be competing for national titles.
The Wisconsin Embarrassment: Where Did the Offense Go?
Seriously, where did it go? The Trojans offense looked utterly lost, managing a pathetic minus-17 yards on 25 carries. Yeah, you read that right: *minus-17 rushing yards*. That number even includes a couple of sacks on quarterback Jayden Maiva. Maiva himself finished the night 31-of-50 for 258 yards, one touchdown, and two crucial interceptions, without any real help from the backfield. The team’s only touchdown drive came way back in the second quarter. This is a team that came into the game with the conference’s seventh-best rushing offense, and they just collapsed. It’s a tough look, especially after Riley himself spent the summer talking up lofty expectations, saying the opportunity to win was “more real” than ever and that the “alignment and momentum” were “palpable.” Well, is any of that perceived momentum still out there after *that*?
A Season Spiraling, A Buyout Looming
This Wisconsin debacle marks USC’s second loss of the season, and they haven’t even hit the truly brutal part of their Big Ten schedule yet. With top-10 Ohio State, Indiana, and UCLA still looming over the final four games, that Wisconsin matchup felt like a must-win for Riley’s squad. His overall record sits at 41-20 in his fifth season, but a far more concerning number is his 5-15 record against top-25 opponents. Those three Big Ten wins this season? They came against teams with a combined conference record of 3-10. This team is No. 16 in the country and is already in danger of missing the College Football Playoff , again. Remember that 41-27 setback against Oregon last month? That came against what’s been called Dan Lanning’s “worst team thus far,” and it happened after USC started the campaign 4-0 and climbed into the top 15. What’s the excuse for this flat showing in Week 8?
Riley’s contract is private, but reports put his buyout around $70 million. That’s a huge number, no doubt. But for a program with USC’s history and expectations, you have to wonder: at what point does keeping him around become even more costly? Next season’s expected 24-team playoff might make getting into the expanded bracket with nine wins *possible*, but is that really a guarantee with how this team is performing? The job expectations are incredibly high at USC, and it’s already been widely reported that Riley isn’t necessarily safe if the Trojans don’t deliver a CFP trip. After Madison, it feels like the wheels are really starting to turn.
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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