Lincoln Riley is just over two weeks away from the first game of his fourth season leading the USC football program — a Aug. 30 homestand against Missouri State — and the matchup is an opportunity for the Trojans to start this fall on the right foot.
A Week 1 win would allow USC to build momentum, something Riley’s squad needs to do quickly. The Trojans are scheduled to face four teams ranked in the AP Preseason Poll this year. Three of those games will be during the first half of the season, back-to-back-to-back, and two are on the road.
USC will travel to the Midwest for games against No. 12 Illinois Week 5 (Sept. 27) and No. 6 Notre Dame Week 7 (Oct. 18), plus the Trojans will host No. 14 Michigan Week 6 (Oct. 11). As the preseason rankings stand, Riley won’t face another ranked opponent until USC heads to No. 7 Oregon Week 11.
Based on last season’s results, facing three ranked opponents on the road doesn’t bode well for the Trojans. Last year, USC beat UCLA 19-13 in Week 11 to finish with a 1-4 road record, and they were 1-3 against ranked opponents with a 27-20 Week 1 win over LSU.
This season, it will be crucial not only for Riley to improve the Trojans’ road record but also to improve their record in one-score games, a category they were 1-5 in last fall.
Riley is largely considered to be facing the most pressure compared to other Big Ten Conference coaches. On3’s Ari Wasserman ranked the Trojans’ leader as facing the fourth-most pressure among all head coaches of Division I football programs. Despite the pressure and conversation surrounding Riley at USC, the coach continues to excite transfers, have significant recruiting success and fortify his staff.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
The Trojans were projected to finish ninth in the Big Ten in what ESPN’s David Hale is calling a “must-win” season for Riley and the team.