Make California Post a Preferred Source Did you see that, Jen Cohen?
The USC athletics director’s flagship program once again couldn’t measure up against a top team in a tough environment.
The Trojans president’s pride and joy once more resembled something he won’t want to bring up in Monday meetings.
The influential member of the USC board of trustees and mega donor still isn’t getting much return on his investment when it comes to Trojans football.
In Year 5, after the latest sorry setback of the Lincoln Riley era, it’s time for everyone in power at USC to repeat after me:
After No. 18 USC’s 27-13 setback against No. 9 Indiana saddled the Trojans with a third loss, they aren’t headed to the College Football Playoff. Not even close.
A best-case scenario for the troubled Trojans (7-3 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) might be the Alamo Bowl, even after all the hype, money, gleaming facilities and defensive coordinators lavished upon their underperforming coach.
“We’ve definitely come a long way as a program,” Riley told reporters afterward, “but we still obviously here got a little ways to go.”
This guy shouldn’t be given another moment to get there.
He’s now 1-8 in road games against nationally ranked teams with the Trojans, making the matter of that roughly $70 million buyout — not counting his assistants and any buyout of an incoming staff — seem like a ransom worth paying.
Riley should immediately reimburse his bosses for the cost of all those billboards around Southern California proclaiming “The Time Is Now.”
You can bet the Trojans fans were watching what unfolded in stunning fashion inside Memorial Stadium over the final quarter.
And throwing things. And hurling insults. And wishing somebody else was their coach.
The USC students calling for Riley’s firing inside the Coliseum amid another sloppy showing more than a month ago were right all along.
Lest you need a reminder of everything that went wrong Saturday, here’s the lowlights:
Defensive backs Alex Graham, Prophet Brown and Jontez Williams all dropped potential interceptions in the end zone. Kicker Caden Chittenden missed two field goals, including a 27-yarder.
The Trojans committed their usual mindless array of penalties, including an illegal blindside block, unsportsmanlike conduct and catch interference.
Forget the CFP for a moment. These are the kinds of mistakes that teams aspiring for the Cheez-It Bowl can’t make.
As he tends to do, Riley vowed things would be different over the last two weeks coming off his greatest victory with the Trojans.
That triumph over then-No. 2 Ohio State at the Coliseum had put a smug expression back onto Riley’s face, prompting him to read a smarmy message proclaiming himself the right man for the job.
Riley then went about saying his staff had made all the necessary tweaks after the team’s first bye week resulted in a road loss to Wisconsin in which the Trojans were badly manhandled.
Beyond the dumb penalties and missed opportunities, quarterback Jayden Maiava couldn’t come through in the moments that mattered.
With his team only 6 yards from tying the score midway through the fourth quarter, Maiava threw a pass that was intercepted, making it the second time in as many drives that the Trojans had failed to score after reaching at least the 10-yard line.
Indiana went on to add another touchdown, and that was that.
Riley sounded his usual tune afterward, delivering a message that should have long ago lost its luster.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in this program, and this deserves to be a championship-level program, there’s no question,” Riley said, “and I’m very confident in the progress that we’ve made but still understanding that we’ve still got a little bit here to go, and so we’re going to continue to work.”
Is he still the right man for the job after his latest disappointment?
Give the guy credit for deluding even himself, if he truly believes what he’s saying.
“I believe in what we’re doing, I believe in myself, I believe in our leadership, I believe in our administration, I believe in everything that’s happening here,” Riley said, “and trust me, there’s nobody who wants it as bad as all of us involved, and we know how close we are as a group, and we know how close we are as a team, and we got a good view of it tonight.”
Have the people in power learned by now? Nothing will change with Riley in charge.
Sure, a fabulous freshman class will continue to blossom, and even Riley can probably make the 24-team CFP that will debut in 2027.
But does anyone making the calls around here really think that the Trojans will ever do anything meaningful given all the chances their coach has fumbled and ways he continues to fall short?
When in doubt, those running the place must remember the mantra around these parts.
