Lincoln Riley’s USC offense left enough points on the field last season to cost them a shot at the College Football Playoff, turning a potential 2-1 record in marquee games into a grim 0-3. That’s right, the difference between being a playoff team and an Alamo Bowl team came down to discipline, or the lack thereof, in scoring what a Riley offense should be able to score. This isn’t just about winning, it’s about maxing out when the margins are razor-thin.
The Offense Was Good, But Not Good Enough
In 2025, USC pivoted back to being an offense-first team, a stark contrast to their defense-first approach in 2024. And yeah, the offense had some bright spots: Jayden Maiava emerged as a formidable Big Ten quarterback, the running game was revived, Makai Lemon brought dynamism, and the offensive line was much improved under position coach Zach Hanson. They still finished 9-3, which isn’t terrible, but the defense under D’Anton Lynn regressed and definitely gets most of the blame for those three losses to top teams. Here’s the kicker though: the offense wasn’t even maxing out in those critical games. They played fairly well against Illinois, but against Notre Dame and Oregon? Way too sloppy, leaving tons of points out there that could have swung those matchups.
Riley’s Offense Needs to Find That Edge Again
Remember Riley’s Oklahoma days? He was winning games like 55-52 and 56-49 in the Big 12. At USC, that scoring hasn’t consistently translated to wins in tight spots. He lost 43-42 to Utah in his first year, then 52-42 to Washington in his second season, and even 46-45 to Tulane in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. That kind of play just isn’t sustainable. Last season, the Trojans lost 34-24 at Notre Dame, 34-32 to Illinois, and 42-27 to Oregon. The numbers speak for themselves: if USC had scored just 40 points in those three games, they would’ve won two of them. Two wins, instead of zero, and we’re talking about a completely different season trajectory.
This season, the margins are going to be incredibly small. USC simply cannot afford to leave points on the field like they did in 2025. We haven’t seen a Lincoln Riley offense truly max out since 2022. For them to get where they want to be, they need to start putting up those 40-point performances again. It might not guarantee every win, but it sure as heck gives them a fighting chance, and that’s what’s on the line starting now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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