Because the fabled combat track heats up and the legendary gesture wags anew, let’s get one factor straight about what was as soon as the Los Angeles sports activities panorama’s shining monument.
USC soccer has change into a mirage.
The greatness is gone. The brand new custom is mediocrity. The brand new heritage is irrelevance.
“Fight on” has change into “Paddle on,” with every ensuing season an exasperating train in preserving that Trojan helmet afloat.
This isn’t opinion. This isn’t hyperbole. That is truth.
Within the final 16 seasons USC has recorded double-digit victories 5 instances.
Throughout that very same time span, Alabama has recorded double-digit victories 15 instances.
Within the final 16 seasons, USC has had one main bowl victory.
Throughout that very same span, Ohio State has 10 main bowl victories.
Because the departure of Pete Carroll after the 2009 season, the Trojan soccer program has been rocked by NCAA punishment, roiled by a litany of ill-fitting coaches, betrayed by a string of embarrassing losses, and usually kneecapped by its personal hubris.
This was as soon as the best dynasty in school soccer historical past. I do know, I used to be there, and infrequently has one workforce energized and impressed this whole metropolis like Uncle Pete’s champions.
However watching video from these days is like watching an alien soccer workforce on Mars. The present product, with all its failures and excuses, is sort of utterly unrecognizable.
Up to now 16 years, this system has dissolved into the equal of a mediocre wannabe that not competes with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Clemson.
USC has mainly change into the opposite USC — a South Carolina-type program stuffed with large aspirations however common outcomes.
The Athletic just lately ranked school soccer applications by way of worth. Regardless of enjoying within the nation’s leisure capital alongside the nation’s most precious skilled basketball and baseball groups, the Trojans ranked solely eighth. They had been estimated as being price practically $1 billion lower than top-ranked Texas, a college that performs in a a lot smaller market with eight fewer nationwide titles.
Which brings us to the doorstep of one other seemingly nondescript season, however one framed in a bold-faced query.
Lincoln Riley needs to be higher, proper? He has to win double-digit video games for under the second time in his 4 seasons, proper? He has to steer the 2025 squad to a bowl sport that isn’t performed in San Diego or Las Vegas, proper?
USC coach Lincoln Riley walks on the sector throughout a timeout in opposition to Nebraska on the Coliseum on Nov. 16.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Most folk assume Riley shouldn’t be on a sizzling seat due to the untenable value of his buyout, reportedly within the neighborhood of $80 million.
That higher be unsuitable.
If USC desires to return to its former glory, Trojan directors should maintain Riley accountable for additional tarnishing that shine.
In a billion-dollar trade, with a $200-million soccer facility at present beneath building, USC can not view its coach via a monetary lens, solely a soccer lens. They have to insist that he win soccer video games at a charge increased than, say, the man he changed.
By means of 40 video games, Riley is 26-14. By means of 40 video games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach.
Helton was publicly torn from limb to limb, but Riley will get a cross?
Riley is 7-6 with out Caleb Williams. He’s 3-9 in opposition to ranked opponents. He has misplaced nearly each large sport and blown virtually each large second.
If he doesn’t change the narrative this season, USC wants to vary the coach.
The Trojans have stabilized their entrance workplace with sharp athletic director Jen Cohen and extremely regarded basic supervisor Chad Bowden. They’ve made big financial investments in infrastructure and recruiting.
Now it’s on Riley. And he must get it executed now.
If Texas A&M can pony up $77.5 million to purchase out Jimbo Fisher, USC can discover the cash to exchange Riley. The price is unimaginable, however the worth of falling additional behind in an evolving sport the place at the least a dozen applications have already left them within the mud is even increased.
“I give a lot of credit to our administration … because it’s very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats in college football,” Riley stated to reporters Thursday at Huge Ten media day in Las Vegas.
He’s proper. All the things is there for him to succeed.
Take the 2025 schedule. It’s the lightest in years. The Trojans don’t play Ohio State. They don’t play Penn State. They don’t play Indiana. They play Michigan on the Coliseum.
Their solely robust nonconference sport is at Notre Dame. Their solely severe hurdle on the street is at Oregon.
USC ought to maintain Riley to a normal of 10 wins, which ought to make the Trojans aggressive for one of many 12 playoff spots.
Actually, that’s numerous mandated wins. However sooner or later, the Trojan administration has to start out demanding that they change into the Trojans once more, and that point is now.
They definitely can not give Riley a grace interval as a result of he has the nation’s prime recruiting class on account of arrive in 2026. Riley has been right here 4 years, the expertise needs to be right here by now, and he shouldn’t be allowed to carry this system hostage till his finest class reveals up.
USC coach Lincoln Riley walks on the sideline throughout a win in opposition to Louisiana State on Sept. 1.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
You need to choose Riley by impactful gamers? Decide him by this 12 months’s quarterback, Jayden Maiava. He’s Riley’s private undertaking, having been anointed the starter with out offseason competitors from the portal.
Maiava was each uncooked and good final 12 months after changing Miller Moss, going 3-1 as a starter capped by a 17-point comeback in a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. He accomplished lower than 60% of his passes in three of the 4 begins, and threw six interceptions to offset his 11 landing passes, however his athleticism is spectacular and his arm is wonderful.
It says right here the brand new child has an opportunity to be nice. Riley can remind Trojan followers of his finest asset if he can lead the brand new child to that greatness.
“His arm talent, the decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special,” Riley stated, later repeating, “He has a chance to be a really, really special player.”
And USC has an opportunity to have a extremely particular season.
For certain. For actual.
For the second time in 17 years.
