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 large occasions, and there was nothing large 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 may very well be made in regards to the path of this system.
Is Riley a fraud or is he really constructing one thing aside from a $200-million follow facility?
Was scheduling cannon fodder equivalent to Missouri State a mandatory step to succeed in the School 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 tender early-season schedule will place USC in a limbo of types, as it will likely be incapable of producing any pleasure for its group. Riley’s program has exhausted the good thing about 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 may very well 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 varsity may very well be in an identical, if not worse, state of affairs with him. USC can’t afford to purchase out his contract, and there may be minimal speak about his job safety whilst his program stays in quest of its id.
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 Pictures)
Kudos to Cohen for studying the room. Honest or not, real looking 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 basic supervisor in Chad Bowden. The NIL battle chest was stocked, leading to higher recruiting success.
This system has additionally modified its scheduling philosophy below Riley. The annual rivalry recreation in opposition to Notre Dame has been endangered by considerations of how non-conference defeats may have an effect on USC’s possibilities of reaching the CFP. Comparable 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. Operating again Waymond Jordan touched the ball solely six instances however was electrical.
“Great start,” Riley mentioned.
Was it actually?
This recreation, in addition to subsequent week’s in opposition to Georgia Southern, might be judged retroactively. Punching down in opposition to Missouri State and bullying Helton may very well be justified if the Trojans attain the CFP. Riley’s cautious collection of opponents could 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 could be perceived as greater than a betrayal of a proud custom. They’d symbolize a brand new low.
