Lincoln Riley excited for USC's opportunity in second half of season

The college football season has reached its fulcrum with six regular season games down and six more to go this year, and so far, the USC Trojans have definitely taken care of business.

For the second straight season head coach Lincoln Riley has led the Trojans to a 6-0 start to the year in just his second year with the program. And on the ‘Trojans Live’ show, he made it clear that he’s not only excited about what his team has done so far this season, but for this time of year during the college football season as well.

“Excited, this is kind of what you work all year for and I think it’s something we’ve pointed to ever since our season ended last year,” Riley said. “We’ve pointed to this second half of the year and the opportunities that come with that and the responsibility I think on us to do everything we can to play our best ball.”

There’s no question that the stakes rise once October rolls around in the college football world. Yes, the Trojans have done as good as they can to start the season from a record standpoint, but Riley understands that now is the time for his team to play their best brand of football possible to go along with their wins.

“We’re halfway through, win-loss record we’ve put ourselves in the best position you possibly could be with everything in front of us. And now it’s time to go seize it, now it’s time to go play your best ball, it’s time to really rise, and I think we sense the opportunity and it’s obviously gonna be a fun ride here man it really is,” Riley admitted.

USC did not face a single ranked opponent through the first six weeks of the season, but that changes drastically for them in the second half of the year facing ranked conference opponents like Utah, Washington, Oregon, and UCLA.

But before they can even get into their Pac-12 gauntlet they face No. 21 Notre Dame this weekend in a rivalry matchup that will represent their biggest test of the season.

“It’s a great second half to the schedule, a lot of really good football teams, a lot of really good games here coming up obviously starting with off with the rivalry game here on the road that we’re very excited to go play,” Riley said. “If you’re a competitor this is what you love man, like the second half of the year right in the middle of the hunt, it’s a perfect spot to be in.”

There’s no question that the remainder of USC’s schedule is a tough one, but with that comes a great opportunity to play their best football of the season and potentially establish themselves as one of the nation’s top teams worthy of a College Football Playoff spot down the road.