Lincoln Riley not shying away from USC's opportunity in Holiday Bowl vs. Louisville

Lincoln Riley doesn’t want to minimize USC’s opportunity against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl just because it’s not where the team expected to be.

With no Caleb Williams, as he goes to the NFL, and Malachi Nelson in the transfer portal, it’s an opportunity for Miller Moss and other guys all around to end the season the right way. Riley wanted his Trojans’ to embrace the moment.

Riley acknowledged all of the changes over the last six weeks since USC last played a football game.

“It’s even a bigger challenge,” Riley said on Sirius XM Big Ten Radio. “I mean, it’s kind of been almost six weeks for us since we played, you know, which is unprecedented. I mean, I don’t know that it’s ever happened in college football. So, ya know, it has been a challenge and on top of it with some of the coaching staff changes and all that’s gone on here. It has been, you know, that’s where you really rely on the leadership of the team, you know, rely on the excitement of these young guys being able to get that opportunity.”

Basically, you have to make the most of it if you’re USC. Louisville comes in after missing a shot at winning the ACC title over undefeated Florida State.

“You know, rely on the staff that set a great direction and with us, we got to make the most of it and not, you can’t let all that outside stuff take away from the opportunities at hand,” Riley said. “Because all of us have played the game, you don’t get too many of these. And they’re numbered for everybody. And you better take advantage of every chance to get regardless of how that opportunity came about.”

Earlier this month, Riley noted how playing in the Holiday Bowl could increase the recruiting footprint in San Diego for USC.

“It’s important for us that we’re getting to be able to play the game here in our home state,” Riley said. “In an area that historically has meant very much to USC football, and so we certainly can’t let that opportunity pass us by.

“I do have a lot of respect for the bowl. One of my earliest memories was coming up here with the Texas Tech team and actually beating Aaron Rodgers and Cal in a great Holiday Bowl. To this day, all the different bowls and big games that I’ve been able to coach in, that’s still one of my favorite memories.”