Riley Reads Statement to Critics After USC Upset
The Trojans' win over Ohio State ends a string of losses and resets their playoff picture before the first rankings drop Tuesday.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Lincoln Riley held up a white sheet of paper at the end of the postgame press conference on Saturday night. He had just led the No. 18 Trojans to an upset victory over Ohio State, a win that knocked the Buckeyes from No. 2 to No. 11 in the AP Top 25. Riley read the statement aloud, word for word, before standing and walking away from the podium while saying adios to the room.
The victory marked a turning point for USC after a turbulent stretch. The Trojans had fallen out of the AP Top 25 following a 17-7 loss to Wisconsin. That defeat had placed their College Football Playoff chances in jeopardy. They also suffered a third consecutive loss to Oregon, which moved Riley’s record against ranked teams to 5-15. A recent win over Washington required overcoming a 21-10 deficit, a struggle that prompted fans at the Coliseum to chant fire Riley.
Riley’s prepared remarks addressed the internal culture of the program. He stated that the team is built on internal joy rather than external applause. The win, he said, belonged to the staff, players, leaders, and administrative personnel within the program’s walls. He reiterated his belief that he is the right person for the job and emphasized that he only cares about the opinion of those people. He expressed appreciation for the university and vowed to continue fighting because that is what being a Trojan means.
It is unclear if Riley wrote the statement himself or prepared it before the game. However, the remarks align with his comments about outside noise throughout the season. Sports pundits and fans have questioned his leadership abilities recently. The statement served as a direct response to that criticism, using the win over a top-25 opponent as a platform to define the team’s identity.
The game itself showcased defensive improvement. USC held Ohio State to a season-low 18 points. The Trojans effectively shut down receiver Jeremiah Smith, a Heisman Trophy candidate. Ohio State did not score a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. This was USC’s highest win over a ranked team since defeating No. 2 Oklahoma in 2004.
Offensive lineman Tobias Raymond echoed the coach’s sentiment during the postgame interviews. He said that nothing matters except the people in the building and how they get along each day. Raymond noted that the game was a product of focusing on themselves and playing Trojan football. He added that this was no offense to anyone outside the building.
The atmosphere at the Coliseum shifted after the final whistle. USC fans rushed the field, creating a sound that seemed to drown out the external criticism. The team will now enter a bye week. They must manage this period better than the previous one, which preceded the loss to Wisconsin.
Two ranked teams are waiting for USC after the break. They will face No. 6 Indiana and No. 5 UCLA. UCLA is currently unbeaten under head coach Bob Chesney, who is in his first year with the program. The first College Football Playoff rankings are scheduled for release on Tuesday. The drop in Ohio State’s ranking may cause a shake-up in those standings.
Riley acknowledged the volatility of the current season. He noted that teams that stay together and keep getting better will be the ones present in the end. He described the schedule as offering both phenomenal challenges and phenomenal opportunities.
