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Lincoln Riley still sees a lot to play for at USC despite second straight loss

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•10/23/23•

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(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Lincoln Riley isn’t ready to throw in the towel for the remainder of USC’s season. The Trojans dropped their second straight game, but have plenty to play for.

The College Football Playoff may be out of reach, but things can still happen to get USC to the Pac-12 title game and a New Year’s Six Bowl. Riley said the team simply has to play better.

If they do play better, they still control most of their destiny.

“Our fight cannot be questioned,” Riley said. “We got to play better, we realize that. Also important for us to take stock of, you know, we still sit in the very advantageous position in this conference. We got some big opportunities coming up, there’s a lot left that’s going to happen and if we continue to fight and prepare the way that we did this week, we’ll have our chances.

“So we gotta gotta get past it. Gotta get on to the next one.” 

Lincoln Riley not giving up hope on USC’s season

USC turns right around and takes on Cal on the road this weekend. Then the brutal stretch comes: home versus No. 5 Washington, at No. 8 Oregon and home versus No. 23 UCLA.

“This is when you get tested as a program, you get tested as a coach and a leader. you get tested, all the staff members, all the players in there, it’s how committed are you to what we’re building and in this toughest time in November,” Riley said. “(This is) one of the tougher times that we’ve had here in a few years … 

“And that was our challenge to the guys in the locker room. I believe in the young men, we have a in there, the staff members that we have in there, I very much believe in how we’ll respond. We’ll get the chance to define it. And that’s the beautiful thing about this game. 

It hasn’t looked great for Riley and USC lately, but the team is capable of so much more according to the head coach. It helps having a Heisman Trophy quarterback under center too.

“We know we have to play better to play to our capability,” Riley said. “But I still know there’s a lot out there for this team even though some people count us out. That’s okay. There’s a lot left in this team, excited for our journey here the rest of the way. There’s still a lot left to play for.”