Paul Finebaum 'disillusioned' by Lincoln Riley, USC defense after Week 0 showing

The biggest key for USC’s College Football Playoff hopes this season is going to be the defense. Lincoln Riley has talked about the improvements the defense made and said it will look “totally different” from last year when the Trojans lost in the Pac-12 Championship and in the Cotton Bowl.

In the season opener, though, USC allowed 14 first-half points to San Jose State as the Spartans totaled nearly 400 yards of total offense. That showing is why Paul Finebaum doesn’t think the Trojans can keep up with other CFP hopefuls.

Finebaum painted a dark picture of what could lie ahead for USC during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday. He doesn’t think Alex Grinch’s defense has taken the steps forward Riley thinks it has, and that’s why the Trojans could struggle against the high-powered offenses at Oregon, Washington and Utah, among others.

“No, they are not,” Finebaum said of whether USC is a “legit threat” to other CFP teams. “And we saw why Saturday night. Stephen A. warned us about this when we last talked. Their defense has not gotten any better. And I know some are saying, ‘Well, San Jose State.’ Well, if you can’t stop San Jose State, how are you going to stop big-time programs down the road like Notre Dame, like Oregon and perhaps Washington and others, as well as Utah? And we haven’t even gotten to the Playoff yet where you have the likes of an Ohio State or a Michigan or a Georgia.

“I came away really disillusioned by all the talk by Lincoln Riley about this new defense under Alex Grinch. It looks like the same old defense, Stephen A. That’s the problem. As long as they can’t stop people, they’re not going anywhere in the College Football Playoff.”

Inside the numbers of USC’s defense

San Jose State got off to a fast start against USC and trailed the Trojans 21-14 at halftime. The Trojans’ offense remained strong, though, totaling 500 yards — including 278 passing yards and four touchdowns from reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

But the defense will be instrumental in putting Williams and the offense in position to succeed. Last year, USC ranked eighth in the Pac-12 with 423.9 yards allowed per game. In the Cotton Bowl, the Trojans allowed Tulane to total 539 yards of offense as the Green Wave pulled off the stunning 46-45 victory.

USC will try to get the defense back on track this week against Nevada.