Remember when the USC Trojans’ 8-5 2023 season felt like a step back? Turns out, the 2024 season brought new challenges as Lincoln Riley’s team finished with a 7-6 record.
Things have spiraled so much that, believe it or not, the Clay Helton era is starting to look respectable in hindsight. Recently, an analyst weighed in on the Trojans’ current state and outlined what needs to change. So, what’s the fix?
Analyst Blasts Lincoln Riley’s USC Decline, Outlines Key Changes for 2025
Expectations are high for the Trojans, and after a difficult first year in the Big Ten, the heat is on Riley heading into 2025.
Riley’s run at USC has raised some eyebrows, with critics questioning whether he fits the job. However, according to analyst David Pollack, in his recent “See Ball Get Ball” episode (36:50 onwards), there’s still reason to believe in Riley. But he admits the coach has struggled to keep up with some of the evolving dynamics in the game.
“Six? 6.5 [on a scale to 10],” Pollack said. “Nobody is going to debate Lincoln Riley as a play-caller and as a coach. I think the biggest thing was that college football kind of changed. The infrastructure of college football changed, and you’ve got to kind of change and zig and zag with it.”
The landscape of college football has changed with the rise of NIL deals and the Transfer Portal, and Riley joined USC right in the middle of that chaos. His move to Los Angeles sparked plenty of backlash, and not long after, the Trojans were thrown into yet another transition: joining the Big Ten, a whole new battlefield.
Riley’s reputation as an offensive mastermind has never been questioned, but the defense has consistently been his Achilles’ heel. It’s not a unique issue to him, but as Pollack pointed out, USC could finally be ready to leap forward once Riley cracks the code on that side of the ball.
“That’s pretty dang good, but Riley still never figured out how to put an offense together with a defense. That’s been his biggest downfall — is being able to construct… listen, he’s not alone,” Pollack said.
“Great coaches have to learn. Kirby Smart had to learn how to get an offense. Nick Saban had to learn how to develop an offense and evolve offensively. A lot of times, you have one component you’re really, really good at, and the other side has to catch up and keep up, or it’s not your strength or your specialty. And then you find that guy that brings you along, that comes beside you — Todd Monken for Kirby — that takes you over to the next level.”
USC begins its 2025 season on Aug. 30 with a home game against Missouri State. Then, on Sep. 13, the Trojans hit the road to take on Purdue in their first Big Ten matchup of the year.
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Can USC set the tone early and prove they’ve made strides after a rocky start in their new conference home?
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