Lincoln Riley upset with USC's start time: 'We don't make the schedule, clearly'

Jeff Hauser

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Lincoln Riley upset with USC's start time: 'We don't make the schedule, clearly' image

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Lincoln Riley expressed his displeasure with USC’s latest scheduling twist. Just days after kicking off at 11 p.m. ET against Michigan State, the Trojans will face Illinois at noon ET on Saturday — an 11-hour turnaround from the previous week’s start.

“Going from the absolute latest kick in the country to the absolutely earliest kick in the country has its challenges,” Riley told reporters. “We don’t make the schedule clearly. And so we’ve had to adapt … it compounds if you’re not careful.” He added that his staff has worked to balance preparation while ensuring USC boards the plane with enough rest to compete.

Riley's frustration is understandable. The noon ET kickoff in Champaign translates to 9 a.m. on the Trojans’ body clocks. It’s a far cry from the late-night slot against Michigan State that stretched into early Sunday morning on the West Coast. Add in the weather-delayed trip to Purdue earlier this month, and USC’s September has been defined as much by odd travel and timing as by its opponents.

But this is part of the tradeoff that came with joining the Big Ten. FOX controls the league’s marquee broadcast windows, which now include both “Big Noon Saturday” and late-night West Coast primetime matchups. USC knew that aligning with the Big Ten meant embracing frequent Central and Eastern Time Zone starts and the network’s scheduling flexibility.

The bigger-picture reality is that the television contract delivers revenue far outweighing the inconveniences. For USC, adaptation is non-negotiable. And so far, the Trojans are thriving. 

At 4-0 and ranked No. 21, USC has leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has accounted for 13 touchdowns without a turnover.

Riley may be upset at the timing, but winning has eased most headaches. For USC, early or late, the expectation is the same to show up and be ready to play. 

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Jeff Hauser

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.