The USC Trojans had a dreadful 2023 season under the leadership of Lincoln Riley. Despite having Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and a talented group of starters, the Trojans finished the regular season with a disappointing 1-5 record. They suffered losses against Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and a humiliating defeat at home against UCLA. Even their lone victory, a 50-49 comeback win over Cal, was not satisfying as it required a goal line stand on a two-point conversion attempt.
Riley made some changes following the season. He fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, and many prominent players decided to transfer. Additionally, Caleb Williams chose to sit out the team’s bowl game against #16 Louisville. Despite these setbacks, USC managed to secure a relatively comfortable 42-28 win in the bowl game.
However, Riley’s comments in a recent press conference may have been overly optimistic. He compared USC’s current recruiting situation and development to that of the Michigan Wolverines a few years ago when they were national champions. Perhaps it would be wise to temper our expectations and not make such grand comparisons.
Riley also expressed interest in potentially taking an NFL job but emphasized the importance of “getting it right” at USC. This approach seems more reasonable and realistic than drawing parallels to the reigning national champions. USC finished the season with an 8-5 record and faces one of the most challenging schedules in the country in 2024. They lost key players like Will Howard and Malachi Nelson, leaving their quarterback room with only Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava, a transfer from UNLV.
Furthermore, the Trojans’ defense was abysmal in 2023, ranking among the worst in the nation. While there is hope for improvement under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and with the addition of Eric Henderson from the LA Rams, it may not be enough to significantly elevate the team’s performance. Riley acknowledged the need to “stack classes” to build a competitive program, implying that it could take several years before USC can contend on a national level.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate for Riley to avoid using Michigan as a benchmark for success.
According to the Source outkick.com