Lincoln Riley’s USC football program is caught in a familiar, brutal trap: they just can’t get both sides of the ball to click at the same time. Year after year, it’s the same story, a constant imbalance that keeps them from reaching their full potential, and honestly, it’s getting old fast.
Same Old Story, Different Year
This isn’t a new problem for the Trojans. Way back in 2017, before Riley even got there, Sam Darnold was absolutely slinging the rock, playing superbly on offense. But what happened? The defense was nowhere near championship-level on a national scale. They nabbed a Pac-12 title, sure, but then got absolutely outclassed by Notre Dame and Ohio State. They had one half of the loaf, but never the whole thing.
Fast forward to the Riley era, and the pattern kept up. In 2022, Alex Grinch’s defense completely cratered, ultimately coughing up the Cotton Bowl. It ruined what could have been a playoff season, and Caleb Williams deserved so much better than that. Then, 2023? The defense somehow got even worse. The team fell short of its enormous potential, all because one side of the ball couldn’t pull its weight.
Then came 2024, and the script flipped again. D’Anton Lynn actually righted the ship on defense. But this time, it was the offense that became the deadweight. Miller Moss was inconsistent, and Riley just couldn’t unlock the running game. The offense dragged them down, continuing this maddening pattern where one side of the ball was just inadequate. In 2025, the defense regressed again, turning USC into an offense-first team that just wasn’t good enough to cover for the defensive shortcomings. It’s the familiar Lincoln Riley script we all know and honestly, hate.
2026: Time for Both Sides to Show Up
Now, heading into 2026, there really are no excuses for the offense. Jayden Maiava, with healthy running backs and a veteran offensive line, should absolutely cook. The receivers are the only real question mark, but if that O-line gives Maiava plenty of time, it probably shouldn’t even matter. The USC offense, with Maiava getting yet another year under Riley’s expertise and play-calling instincts, should be able to produce big time. It simply has to come together.
But here’s the kicker, the real key: the defensive line. Last season, those guys were simply not ready for prime time. They were too young, too unproven, too thin. The young pups who got schooled in 2025 have to grow up and show up in 2026. It’s that simple, honestly. This is likely where USC will rise or fall.
Riley also bet big on Gary Patterson, trusting that his lack of coaching activity over the past three years wouldn’t leave him outflanked or outdated as a strategist. It’s on Patterson to deliver a defense that will make those strong offensive showings actually stand up. USC cannot afford an Alex Grinch sequel, where they score 42 points but still allow 45. It’s time for USC to have both sides of the ball playing well in the same game, consistently. It’s past time for Lincoln Riley to finally turn the corner in LA and make this team a consistent contender on every snap.
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.
Leave a Reply