This was what Lincoln Riley wished.
A half-empty Coliseum. An overwhelmed opponent. The nameless guests from Palookaville booed as they marched onto the sphere.
Los Angeles is about huge occasions, and there was nothing huge about USC’s season opener on Saturday, save for the margin of victory.
There have been no conclusions to attract from the 73-13 victory over Missouri State. There have been no definitive statements that could possibly be made in regards to the course of this system.
Is Riley a fraud or is he truly constructing one thing aside from a $200-million apply facility?
Was scheduling cannon fodder akin to Missouri State a essential step to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff or a cynical effort to hide USC’s mediocrity?
No one is aware of.
With a house recreation in opposition to Clay Helton-coached Georgia Southern subsequent week and a go to to rebuilding Purdue the week after, the Trojans gained’t be examined till they host Michigan State on Sept. 20.
The delicate early-season schedule will place USC in a limbo of kinds, as it will likely be incapable of producing any pleasure for its group. Riley’s program has exhausted the advantage of the doubt following two underwhelming seasons. Till the Trojans can show they’re authentic nationwide championship contenders, they gained’t be considered as one.
By ending 7-6 final season and 8-5 the season earlier than, Riley has elicited fears that he could possibly be a new-age model of Helton, a coach incapable of assembly Trojan Nation’s exacting requirements. In his first 41 video games at USC, Riley is 27-14. On the identical stage, Helton was 28-13.
Monetary issues stored USC from firing Helton till his seventh season. If Riley doesn’t begin competing for championships, the college could possibly be in the same, if not worse, scenario with him. USC can’t afford to purchase out his contract, and there’s minimal speak about his job safety at the same time as his program stays searching for its identification.
Second-year athletic director Jennifer Cohen spoke final week to The Instances’ USC beat author, Ryan Kartje, and the subtext of the dialog was that the Trojans higher win.
“I just feel great about the progress that’s been made,” Cohen instructed Kartje. “And now we’re in a position where our expectations are high. We all know what they are and that’s to win.”
USC coach Lincoln Riley speaks to quarterback Jayden Maiava throughout a blowout win over Missouri State on Saturday.
(Luke Hales / Getty Photographs)
Kudos to Cohen for studying the room. Honest or not, lifelike or not, she acknowledges that USC is judged the way in which the Lakers and Dodgers are, and that something aside from a championship is taken into account failure.
The division she oversees spent the offseason eradicating potential obstacles for Riley, retaining highly-regarded defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and selecting up a promising normal supervisor in Chad Bowden. The NIL warfare chest was stocked, leading to higher recruiting success.
This system has additionally modified its scheduling philosophy underneath Riley. The annual rivalry recreation in opposition to Notre Dame has been endangered by issues of how non-conference defeats might have an effect on USC’s probabilities of reaching the CFP. Related worries led to the cancellation of a home-and-home collection with Mississippi.
Ole Miss’s alternative on Saturday was Missouri State, which completed 4-8 as a Soccer Championship Subdivision group. The sport on the Coliseum was Missouri State’s first as a Soccer Bowl Subdivision group.
As soon as-fearless USC was now selecting and selecting opponents as if it was a second-rate boxer.
To their credit score, the Trojans did what a conventional powerhouse ought to do to a program of Missouri State’s stature. The sport was the highest-scoring for USC in virtually a century, as 9 of its gamers mixed to attain 10 touchdowns. Quarterbacks Jayden Maiava and Husan Longstreet accomplished 24 of 27 passes between them. Working again Waymond Jordan touched the ball solely six instances however was electrical.
“Great start,” Riley stated.
Was it actually?
This recreation, in addition to subsequent week’s in opposition to Georgia Southern, will likely be judged retroactively. Punching down in opposition to Missouri State and bullying Helton could possibly be justified if the Trojans attain the CFP. Riley’s cautious number of opponents can be considered as an adjustment to a brand new actuality. If the Trojans fail to make the CFP’s 12-team discipline, nevertheless, these early-season video games can be perceived as greater than a betrayal of a proud custom. They might symbolize a brand new low.
