Lincoln Riley Likes the Fight in These Trojans

Nothing about the first three games of the season made most USC fans confident that the Trojans would prevail if a game turned into a defensive struggle. But the defense showed up big time in its first opportunity to step up and deliver a win for the Trojans.

This 17-14 win over Oregon State wasn’t pretty at times. But the Trojans probably feel better at the end of this one than any of the first three. Offensive performances like that on the road in a difficult environment to play very often wind up in losses. These Trojans found a way, both on offense and defense, to get it done when it mattered.

“I’m probably more proud of this win than the previous three,” Riley said after the game. “We found a way and it feels damn good.”

Riley consistently says conference wins on the road are “like gold.” The Trojans are rolling in riches right now, already with two such wins under their belts (and against two teams that demoralized them in the Coliseum last season). But this was the first game this season that was tight in the fourth quarter. And it was the first game where the USC offense gave the defense absolutely no room for error for more than 45 minutes.

It can age coaches considerably to have a bunch of these in a season, but Riley said this type of win can feel a little sweeter than the blowouts.

“If everything’s rolling and you go separate, that’s awesome,” Riley said. “Obviously, we want that to happen ever week. But that’s not college football. It just doesn’t happen like that all the time. How many times do you see a really good team go in and get upset or beat in a tough road atmosphere like tonight? I mean, it happens all the time. But that’s where you separate yourself. The really great teams find a way no matter what the circumstances. And we found a way tonight.”

The Moments

While the defense stole the show and should feel extremely proud of the way it played against Oregon State, two of the standout moments offensively deserve mention. Without all the big plays, USC doesn’t win that game. But the two huge ones on the final USC offensive touchdown drive illustrated the “Fight On” mentality the team has embraced in working to rebound from last season’s 4-8 year.

“Our offense doing what they did on that last drive showed a lot of grit and determination to match what we were doing on the field defensively,” Riley said.

The touchdown throw from Caleb Williams to Jordan Addison was perfection, and a testament to Williams’ ability to shake off a rough performance and deliver when it mattered most. But it wouldn’t have happened without a heads up play from Brett Neilon and Jonah Monheim earlier in the drive. The offensive linemen recognized Williams was stopped short on a 4-and-6 scramble and threw themselves at the pile to drive their quarterback over the line to gain.

“That was awesome,” Riley. said. “Those are the moments, right? That’s what it comes down to. Fourth down, you’ve got to find a way and you just got to leave it all on the field. And if you can play hard every single snap and it means a lot to you, then you don’t have to wonder when that one play is going to come up that might change the game. And that one obviously was a huge one.”

Seeing the Culture

It’s obvious that this is the type of game last year’s team likely wouldn’t have won. But it’s also the type of game some really good USC teams wouldn’t have won.

The players have talked non-stop about the change in culture Riley and his staff are looking to usher in. That game was a good look at what they’ve been talking about.

“It was such a sequence and finish,” Riley said of the back-and-forth, big-time drives by the offense to take the lead and defense to finish off the win. “If anything we’ve done up to this point shows the progress we’re making in that locker room, within the walls, the culture, tonight as a whole really did show that.”

Arizona State prep will start soon, but the Trojans likely took a little bit of extra time to relish that win on Saturday night.

“I’m really, really proud of our group and our fight,” Riley said. “It was at an elite level tonight.”