Commentary: Lincoln Riley answers his critics with USC statement win, but he must keep delivering

USC stunned No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum, giving coach Lincoln Riley his first win over a top-10 opponent and keeping the Trojans' playoff hopes alive after a rough loss at Wisconsin.

USC stunned No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum on Saturday night, giving coach Lincoln Riley his first victory over a top-10 opponent in his Trojans tenure and keeping alive the team's hopes of making the College Football Playoff.

The win came one week after USC went to Madison as a sizable favorite over Wisconsin and laid what can only be described as an egg. For the first time in Riley's coaching career, one of his teams scored just seven points in a game. That loss featured head-scratching coaching mistakes, including attempting a 58-yard field goal against the wind. Predictably, it did not work, setting Wisconsin up with outstanding field position and a score.

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The Trojans looked poorly prepared and poorly coached. Senior quarterback Jayden Maiava took multiple atrocious intentional grounding penalties and threw two interceptions. A muffed catch on a Badgers kickoff led to a missed opportunity before halftime, and USC did not call timeout when its defense was misaligned on a pivotal fourth-and-2, leading to a Wisconsin touchdown. USC finished with an incredible -17 net rushing yards.

After that loss, speculation and discussion were immediate. Riley was mentally checked out in LA, was one common sentiment. USC's athletic department had already started putting together funds to potentially clear Riley's rumored $70 million buyout, and fans and analysts were putting together wish lists of potential new coaches for 2027 and beyond. Ohio State entered Saturday still heavily favored despite starting backup quarterback Luke Fahey, a Mission Viejo product.

The Buckeyes have a top-three defense and arguably the best player in the country in Jeremiah Smith. OSU dominated time of possession and racked up yardage thanks to some garbage time drives, but never really looked like it had much of a chance. When set up with first-and-goal inside the 1-yard line, the Buckeyes still could not get into the end zone. USC, which had been unimpressive for most of the season, looked like a totally different team.

Star freshman Trent Mosley took a screen pass on the second play of the game for a long touchdown. Mark Bowman provided the highlight of the year from a tight end, hurdling an Ohio State defender and running through tackles on a huge catch and run. The Trojans' much-maligned defense grabbed an opportune turnover, forced a fumble that was inexplicably not reviewed, and got stop after stop when it needed them.

The Buckeyes had not given up more than 24 points in a game since losing to Oregon 32-31 on Oct. 12, 2024. Previously injured freshmen Trent Mosley and Mark Bowman gashed a Buckeyes defense that had not allowed a play longer than 36 yards all season with plays of 69 and 70 yards.

USC's defense also showed fortitude when it forced Ohio State to settle for a field goal after the Buckeyes had first and goal at the one-yard line late in the second quarter. Grit play, a toughness deal. A mindset thing, defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren said. After the game, Riley read a prepared statement during his postgame media availability.

He began his news conference looking, appropriately, to lend perspective to the victory, his first in his USC tenure against a top-10 team. Every win's important, said Riley, whose overall record at USC in his fifth season is now 42-20. When you get a chance, like tonight, to play a really good football team, one of the best programs in America over a long, long period of time, those are great opportunities.

He also addressed his future and his bond with the program. I said before this game, that I'm the right person for this job, and as long as all those people know that, that's all I care about, Riley said. I appreciate being a part of this university and all it does. I appreciate our kids and our staff, and I'm going to continue to fight on because that's what being a Trojan's all about.

Fight On. He reiterated his usual message, win or lose. I know what's building within those walls. Like, I know it.

All my years of experience and all that I've kind of seen and got to experience in this game tells me that. I believe that with every fiber in my being. He added that the win was built on internal joy, not external applause. This win's for all the staff members, the players, the leaders, admin, all the people within the walls.

Riley also pointed to the broader playoff picture. I keep saying, look at all the craziness across the country, Riley said. The teams that just hang in there, keep going, get better, stay together, are going to be the ones that are there in the end. There was also a tense postgame moment.

Buckeyes staff and players were walking off the Coliseum field in the tunnel, and Riley tried to walk to the same area with his family and security guard. But an OSU staffer held him up, and after a few seconds, athletic director Ross Bjork could be seen gesturing back toward Riley and saying something toward him. Whatever it was, Riley was not happy about it, clearly saying some very profane phrases back as he was finally let through.

With Indiana and undefeated UCLA still ahead, the Trojans have every reason to believe their talent and resilience can carry them through to a playoff berth. Indiana escaped Saturday with a 23-16 overtime win over Minnesota, its second straight overtime win, to keep its national title defense alive. UCLA is 8-0 and has been taking care of business against opponents who have no business beating them, like Nevada on Saturday, 27-0.

Before the Ohio State win, USC had been sneaking by struggling teams like Rutgers, Penn State and Washington. Now, after Saturday's sensational showing, USC will spend next week's bye and then the week ahead of its game in Bloomington against the Hoosiers doing the math and wondering why the Trojans cannot knock off another top-five team. And if they can beat Indiana, why can't they beat the 8-0 Bruins?

The win reinforced Riley's belief that he is the right person to coach the Trojans, but he will need to continue to beat top teams if he wants to safeguard his USC future. Saturday's victory won't necessarily be good news for dissatisfied fans rooting for Riley's ouster, but it was big for anyone partial to a good comeback story and for those tenuous CFP prospects.

Riley might not want to worry himself with the external applause, but if he wants to fight on at USC, he is going to need to continue earning it.