USC entered its matchup against Illinois with high expectations. The Trojans came in unbeaten and were looking to make a statement in their first Big Ten season. A road win would have shown that Riley’s team could handle the challenges of the new conference.
Instead, the game ended in disappointment, with both the performance on the field and the head coach’s reaction drawing attention. Lincoln Riley was visibly unhappy after the loss.
His frustration centered on the 9 A.M. kickoff time, which he pointed out as a difficult adjustment. The Trojans have grown used to late-night starts, and the quick turnaround for an early kickoff was not in their favor.
Riley made it clear that scheduling challenges put his players at a disadvantage. His rant about the timing became a headline, adding another layer to the fallout from the loss.
“Going from the absolute latest kick in the country to the absolute earliest kick in the country has its challenges,” Riley said. “But the challenges, like, it is what it is. We don’t make the schedule, clearly.”
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On the field, USC’s problems ran deeper than scheduling. The Trojans committed costly errors, including a crucial fumble from running back Waymond Jordan that shifted momentum. The defense was unable to contain Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, who helped the Illini pile up more than 500 total yards.
Penalties also played a major role, with one wiping away a 75-yard touchdown that could have changed the game. Despite a late push, USC could not recover. Illinois capitalized, and a 41-yard field goal as time expired sealed the 34–32 upset.
Lincoln Riley Defended his Scoring Early Strategy
Riley stood by his call to score early after the game. He explained that the team anticipated Illinois would play aggressively, and the quick pass was part of USC’s base game plan. Jayden executed the read well, and in Riley’s view, the situation left little room for overthinking.
Being down by five on the road against a strong defense, he believed the decision was the right one in the moment.
“Scoring is not easy,” he SAID. “So yeah, would it have worked out great it we were able to use more clock? Yeah. But if you bleed clock and don’t score, it doesn’t matter anyway. So you’ve gotta score. Obviously we made a great play, and you’ve gotta live with those. I’ve been in that situation as a coach and I’ve seen it played too conservative, too.”
Even with his explanation, many USC fans are unlikely to be convinced. The Trojans once again fell short against a ranked opponent, continuing a troubling trend.
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