Matt Leinart calls out Lincoln Riley's clock management, Big Ten losses

USC dropped a close one on Saturday to the Penn State Nittany Lions, losing 33-30 in overtime. And the heat is turning up on Trojans’ head coach Lincoln Riley. His squad currently sits at 1-3 in the Big Ten and prominent football alumni like Matt Leinart are furious.

Shortly after the loss, Leinart took to Twitter to vent his frustrations on Lincoln Riley and the Trojans’ coaching staff. “Clock management has been a massive issue all year. It’s unfortunate. 1-3 in the Big 10. Wow!” Leinart lamented on his Twitter page.

Clock management has been a massive issue all year. It’s unfortunate.

1-3 in the Big 10. Wow!

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) October 12, 2024

He followed that up with another tweet. “Mediocrity isn’t the standard at USC. Period!”

Lincoln Riley with yet another testy press conference

In what appears to becoming a common theme for USC, a close game went against them. Penn State earned a come-from-behind win in overtime and will have quite the celebration as they travel back across the country. Unfortunately for Lincoln Riley, another loss where he feels like the Trojans are close to pulling through.

Following the game, a reporter asked Riley if the responsibility for these losses fell to him. Riley did not appreciate the question and made that clear during the opening part of his answer. The head coach did take responsibility for falling short on multiple occasions and added he always has.

“It always falls to me,” Riley said. “When have I ever shouldered responsibility? I always take it. I’m the head coach. It’s my job. Believe me, there ain’t nobody taking more responsibility than I am. So, I don’t know where that line of questioning comes from.”

USC was up by two touchdowns at halftime, holding Penn State to just six points. The script changed on the opening drive of the second half before James Franklin saw his team tie the game up early in the fourth quarter. Eventually, overtime hit as USC failed to hit a field goal and Penn State put one through the uprights to win.

Three losses for Riley this season have come by an average of 4.3 points, a total of 13. On the road to Michigan and last Saturday at Minnesota were the first two. Penn State was the first to take down USC in Los Angeles.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.