How quickly things can change in the world of modern college football.
Just a few weeks ago, the USC Trojans were seemingly riding a wave of positive momentum. In the Lincoln Riley era, SC has struggled to win on the road, particularly against traditionally big programs. In 2025, for example, the Trojans went 9-3 in the regular season, with all three losses coming at Illinois, at Oregon and at Notre Dame.
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But things were supposed to be different in 2026. SC brought in the number one recruiting class in the country. They brought back starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, entering his third year in the program and second full season as the starter. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson brought a wealth of experience and a history of getting elite performance out of TCU level talent.
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USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a play during the game between the USC Trojans and the San Jose State Spartans on Aug. 29, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. (Icon Sportswire)
While the schedule looked daunting, thanks to games against Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana, 2026 was widely viewed as a turning point for the program. Win 10 games and make the College Football Playoff, or bust. Through early October, despite some underwhelming performances, the Trojans were squarely in position.
Chaos throughout the SEC opened the door for more available at-large spots. Despite an ugly home loss to a diminished Oregon team, SC was 5-1 heading into a big road game against Penn State. And finally, a Riley-coached SC team looked prepared. Even with the “White Out” home crowd, a motivated PSU team, the lengthy road trip to the Eastern Time Zone, and a long litany of injuries, SC won 31-23 ahead of their bye week.
In the interim, Ohio State lost their starting quarterback Julian Sayin, likely for the remainder of the regular season, making their matchup on Halloween look a lot more winnable. SC just had to get through another road game at Wisconsin to set up the biggest home game in years. And boy oh boy did they not get through it.
Almost immediately, the Trojans looked the way they so frequently have under Riley: poorly coached, undisciplined, and unable to overcome when things start going against them. Their offensive line, which was supposed to be a strength, was confused and overwhelmed by a Wisconsin defense that allowed 41 points to Notre Dame. Maiava played one of his worst games as a Trojan, throwing two interceptions, though one was on a deflected pass, and taking multiple awful intentional grounding penalties. One of which set up a much longer field goal attempt, which was promptly blocked.
USC’s running game was nonexistent, with minus-17 total yards thanks to Maiava’s minus-57 — minus-57!!! — rushing yards. There were multiple drops by the receiving corps. Perhaps most emblematic was the sequence that played out late in the second quarter.
Offensive lineman Colin Cubberly No. 78 of the Wisconsin Badgers signals a touchdown after a pileup at the line in the second half against the USC Trojans at Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 24, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (Getty Images)
Wisconsin had a nearly eight-minute touchdown drive, kicking the ball back to SC with the Badgers up 10-7, 1:51 remaining and the Trojans still with all three timeouts. Boobie Feaster muffed the kickoff at the goal line, however, and SC started their drive at their own 7-yard-line. After five plays and a first down, they ended the half at the … 8-yard line.
Then in the second half, Riley made a series of indefensible mistakes.
The Badgers started the third quarter by driving down to the USC 16-yard line, but the Trojans’ defense held, setting up a fourth-and-2. Wisconsin came out in an unusual formation, with four wide receivers bunched toward the sideline. Riley decided against calling a timeout, even though his defense wasn’t aligned properly, with just two defensive backs on four receivers, and multiple players covering no one in the middle of the field. Predictably, the play resulted in a Wisconsin touchdown, extending their lead to 17-7.
SC’s drive to start the fourth quarter was equally bad. The Trojans moved the ball down to the Wisconsin 33-yard line, before Maiava took a sack on second down to make it third-and-20. SC picked up eight to set up a lengthy, 53-yard field goal attempt. A substitution-based delay of game penalty made it fourth-and-17 from the 41-yard-line, and instead of punting, or even just throwing a screen pass to pick up yardage with a slight chance of a first down, Riley chose to attempt a 59-yard field goal. Predictably, it came up about 10 yards short.
The Badgers drove down the field immediately afterward for the back-breaking, game-ending touchdown that not only gave SC their second loss, but seemingly put a bow on Riley’s time in Los Angeles.
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Not all the blame for the loss goes on Riley; Maiava was awful, looking hurried, flustered and frequently making poor decisions. The offensive line was atrocious, giving up pressure after pressure and flailing helplessly in the run game too. Once again, the SC defense just wasn’t good enough, despite the Badgers’ one-dimensional offensive “attack.”
Wisconsin averaged just 3.5 yards per play, with only 200 total yards. They had 58 — 58! — total passing yards. Wisconsin barely even attempted plays other than inside or outside zone handoffs or designed quarterback runs. And SC still allowed three touchdown drives.
Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News)
Explanations for this individual game aside, it’s the result that’s once again indefensible. Wisconsin is nowhere close to the level of Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, Notre Dame or other top teams, and SC’s offense was completely overmatched anyway. Seven points was the fewest scored by any Riley-coached team. Ever. In year five, it’s the same mistakes, over and over again and a defense that can’t win games when the offense struggles. Indiana escaped over Michigan 13-6, because their defense can get stops when they need them. That’s never been the case for a Riley-coached SC team.
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SC still has an opportunity to reach the playoffs if they beat Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland and UCLA. But it’s impossible to believe they’ll win those four games. It’s hard to believe they’ll win more than two. Which sets up yet another disappointing 8-4 or, at best, 9-3 season. For all the money that’s been dumped into the program, that’s not good enough.
In year five of the Riley era, SC has yet to reach the College Football Playoff, has shown little improvement on defense, and, with Caleb Williams in his final year in LA, finished 7-5 in the regular season. His buyout might be huge, but it’s clear that this isn’t working and probably never will.
Meanwhile, across town, Bob Chesney has UCLA in prime position to reach the College Football Playoff in his first season. One week after beating Wisconsin 17-7 at the Rose Bowl, with a backup quarterback starting for the Bruins.
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What is there left to see? What more can the SC athletic department do? How many more top recruiting classes does Riley need to avoid these kinds of inexcusable losses?
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Yes, winning in college football is tougher than it’s ever been, thanks to NIL and the transfer portal. Yet somehow, programs like Georgia and Ohio State, which USC would like to believe they’re similar to in pedigree and track record, are able to consistently win 10+ games. Riley did it once, in 2022. Then promptly lost to Tulane in an absurd fourth quarter defensive collapse.
It’s just not good enough. And when the Buckeyes are running away with yet another win next Saturday, those “Fire Riley” chants at the Coliseum are going to be deafening. Probably too deafening for the SC administration to ignore.
