A Season of Despair: USC’s Mediocre Record and the Future of the Program
A Season of Disappointment
This season is officially worse than the last, with USC completing its regular season with a 6-6 record and likely destined for a minor bowl in a desert wasteland. The once-promising Lincoln Riley era has unraveled, with the team’s performance plummeting to new lows.
Comparing Eras
Remember how an 8-5 season last year felt like rock bottom? Well, things have unraveled at USC to the point where the infamous Clay Helton era, in retrospect, is starting to look half-decent. Following a 49-35 defeat to No. 5 Notre Dame at the Coliseum on Saturday, Lincoln Riley has a 25-14 record as USC’s coach. In the same role, Helton was 28-11 through his first 39 games.
Shortcomings and Frustration
Riley’s shortcomings have kept the Trojans from even dreaming of realizing their championship ambitions. His eight-figure annual salary pretty much guarantees he won’t be fired anytime soon. As a program that defines itself by championships, USC risks becoming irrelevant when there’s an absence of hope, and USC is hopeless at the moment. If there’s a way out of his purgatory, no one can see it, the mounting defeats and shortage of high-end talent obscuring the path ahead.
Former Trojans’ Views
Matt Leinart, a former USC quarterback, posted on social media, "Finish 6-6 and just really have no clue what we are? Who we are? There’s no identity. We have good players. Need to recruit harder. As frustrated as anyone. Want to see USC back to being a contender. Don’t think we are close at the moment."
Matt Barkley, another former Trojans quarterback, was more succinct, "This is not USC football."
The State of the Program
This is USC football now, and this could be USC football for a while. Riley has called into question whether he has the comportment required to clean up his personal Chernobyl. This is the same thin-skinned coach who this year closed practice to the media, the same one who last year suspended a Southern California New Group reporter for alleged violations of the program’s media policy.
Concerns and Uncertainty
In the wake of the Notre Dame loss, Riley was asked why he was confident USC could live up to his mandate of competing for championships. Riley wouldn’t say. "This game finished 20 minutes ago," he said. "We’ve got time to go here. I know I get to answer all those. That’s part of being the head coach. I don’t shy away from it. But this is about this team and this moment, these guys that played their last game here at the Coliseum."
Conclusion
The Trojans were never blown out this season, including Saturday. They were ahead 7-0; they tied the game at 14-14 and 21-21. Until Irish cornerback Christian Gray intercepted a pass by Maiava and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown with 3 minutes 39 seconds remaining in the game, the Trojans were down by only a touchdown — 35-28. Their five other losses were by a combined 19 points. The Trojans were in every game they played. Their inability to win these games, however, pointed to another, potentially more disconcerting, problem: their lack of playmakers.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of the USC football program?
A: The program is currently in a state of mediocrity, with a 6-6 record and doubts about its ability to compete for championships.
Q: How does Lincoln Riley’s performance compare to Clay Helton’s?
A: Riley has a 25-14 record as USC’s coach, while Helton was 28-11 through his first 39 games.
Q: What are the concerns about the program?
A: The concerns include the team’s lack of playmakers, recruiting, and player development.
