Lincoln Riley reveals how he's ensured USC's motivation is still there for Cotton Bowl

USC and Lincoln Riley do not want any letdowns in the Cotton Bowl against Tulane. But with a long layoff between the Pac-12 title game loss and a New Year’s Six game, there are fair questions about motivation for some teams.

However, that’s not the case for USC. Riley was asked about the history of USC and others having a letdown after a tough loss to end the regular season, especially considering the Cotton Bowl is not a part of the College Football Playoff.

But Riley and the Trojans treated Cotton Bowl preparation like any other big game.

“We haven’t gotten too caught up in the recent history,” Riley said. “You know, this is different, and certainly our expectations are to have been first to prepare very well. And I think part of our job as coaches and as leaders on the team is to be able to articulate to our team that this is very important, why it’s important, and there’s a lot of reasons.

“Honestly, the preparation in the way that guys have approached the last 27 days would suggest to me that, that they are very excited to play this game and they understand the significance both for both for this team, and future teams. 

Riley doubled down and expected both teams to come out firing.

“Games like this certainly, of course they matter, this is the Cotton Bowl, it’s a New Year’s Six bowl, I mean it’s one of the biggest games in the country,” Riley said. “It’ll be for players on both teams. This will be one of the games that you remember more than any other 30-40 years down the line. You’ll remember playing in the Cotton Bowl and you’ll remember you know for USC, you’ll remember playing a championship Tulane squad. 

“You’ll remember the last moments that those teams will ever have together. And so it’s very, very important to us. Our preparation suggests that we understand that and hopefully our play does as well.”

A layoff might’ve been good for one Trojans star due to injury.

The last time USC quarterback Caleb Williams was in front of the camera, he accepted the Heisman Trophy. A week prior, he was limping his way through the Pac-12 Championship game, as USC fell to Utah and ended its chances of making the College Football Playoff.

“I’m doing well,” Williams said during the December preparation for the Cotton Bowl. “Hamstring is doing well. And I am confident that I will be out there. ”Williams threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. On the ground, the former On300 No. 1 overall player had 372 yards and 10 touchdowns.