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Lincoln Riley and USC fell to Minnesota 24-17 on Saturday night.
For the Trojans, it’s their second loss in the last 3 weeks after they also fell to Michigan earlier this fall. It’s a crushing loss for USC’s College Football Playoff hopes and their chances to contend for a Big Ten title in 2024.
Nearly all the momentum from USC’s season-opening win over LSU in Las Vegas has seemingly been squandered. The Trojans looked like they were capable of reaching the CFP after that win over the Tigers, but their margin-for-error is now essentially gone for the rest of the season.
The loss means that USC is now 22-10 overall in the Lincoln Riley era. As David Woods points out, that record is 1-game worse than Clay Helton’s record through his first 32 games at the helm:
Lincoln Riley is 22-10 through 32 games as the USC head coach. Clay Helton was 23-9.
— David Woods (@daviddavidwoods) October 6, 2024
USC does still have a chance to turn things around, but it will be difficult to do so. The Trojans still have to face Penn State, Washington, Nebraska and Notre Dame, amongst others, this fall.
In order to get back on track, USC will have to make some big changes. The Trojans have lost 7 of their last 12 games dating back to last season.
Here’s what fans and media were saying about Riley and USC after the latest loss to Minnesota:
Lincoln Riley did not sign up for Big Ten football.
Can't even beat the Gophers in Year 3.
The "Mecca of College Football' is 11-9 in his last 20 games.
— Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) October 6, 2024
We just lost to a 2-3 talentless Minnesota football team with a literal baby as their head coach. This is the lowest point in the Lincoln Riley era.
— ✌️The USC Trojan Times✌️ (@USCTimes) October 6, 2024
Lincoln Riley has lost seven of his last 12 games. That’s not what they paid for.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 6, 2024
this has been such a crazy day/last hour that i dont think we've taken enough time to appreciate that Lincoln Riley lost to PJ Fleck LMAO
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) October 6, 2024
Lincoln Riley is better at embarrassing himself with the way he treats the media than he is at losing football games to deeply inferior talent, which is a real achievement. https://t.co/H5ZQuQnzsx
— David Eckert (@davideckert98) October 6, 2024
#USC fans wonder if Lincoln Riley is a fraud. pic.twitter.com/1jJYPXzABh
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) October 6, 2024
One day they’ll speak about what a fraud Lincoln Riley is
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) October 6, 2024
Records in last 12 games
Sonny Dykes 5-7
Hugh Freeze 5-7
Billy Napier 5-7
Sam Pittman 5-7
Lincoln Riley 5-7— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 6, 2024
Lincoln Riley should’ve never left Oklahoma
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) October 6, 2024
https://twitter.com/Boomer_Pawl/status/1842771690780012668
USC will host Penn State in Week 7.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
