Matt Leinart reacts to USC losing to Maryland, criticizes mindset

The USC Trojans (3-4 overall, 1-4 Big Ten Conference) blew yet another fourth quarter lead on Saturday night, and patience is growing thinner and thinner within their fan base. Former Trojan great Matt Leinart hasn’t been shy about ripping the team and Lincoln Riley in recent weeks. The ‘Terps scored 15 unanswered points as they took down USC, 29-28. Leinart was once again, furious after his team blew yet another fourth quarter lead.

Didn’t think it could get much worse but here we are… https://t.co/5oz6NnIIEW

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) October 20, 2024

“Didn’t think it would get much worse but here we are….” he wrote on his Twitter account.

Leinart then posted a minute long video with his reaction after the loss.

“No disrespect to Maryland, their last win was against Villanova. I’m sitting on a plane right now. I mean, this is unbelievable. Every game we’ve lost we’ve been up in the second half and we can’t figure out a way to win. We can’t finish. That is a mindset. There’s nothing else. It is a mindset,” Leinart continued.

“I’m frustrated, disappointed, embarrassed, you name it. I know every fan feels the same way. I try not to overthink and trust the process. And I get all of that. But it just feels like we’re just taking steps backwards. I don’t know what the solution is. I’m not the coach. But I think the fans deserve better. This is just not what we expected this year first year in the Big Ten. By the way, it doesn’t get any easier. Take a look at the schedule. It doesn’t get any easier. This is bad. This is really bad,” Leinart vented.

The Trojans (3-4 overall) have lost their four games by a combined 14 points–all after leading in the second half. This time, they were winning 28-14 before blowing it in painful fashion.

USC kicker Michael Lantz had a field goal attempt with two minutes left in the game that would have sealed the game for the Trojans, but it was blocked by Maryland’s Donnell Brown. A costly pass interference penalty on John Humphrey on the next drive cleared the way for ‘Terps quarterback Billy Edward’s Jr.’s game-winning touchdown run with 53 seconds left.