Riley Won the Offseason. Will it Payoff?

By Kyle Golik

As the final seconds of USC's blowout loss to UCLA ticked away in the Coliseum, there were many realizations that did not materialize. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Caleb Williams played his final game. While putting up similar numbers to that of 2022, being on a 7-5 team eliminated him from any meaningful Heisman consideration.

For head coach Lincoln Riley , he watched a Heisman Trophy quarterback season, and really Williams' career in college get wasted, never appearing in the College Football Playoff. Previous Riley quarterback products Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts all appeared in the College Football Playoff. Last season, the Trojans had the No. 3 scoring offense that averaged 41.8 points per game, it was the fourth time in Riley’s seven seasons he had a Top-three scoring offense.

While the 2022 defense was the first in Trojan history to surrender 400 or more points in the season, last season’s group was by far the worst allowing 447 points. Allowing 34.4 points per game was 121st in the country, and allowed 6.1 yards per game and 432.8 yards per game.

In a November 2023 column that followed the UCLA loss, longtime L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke went in on Riley saying , “Lincoln Riley, your honeymoon is over. This awful loss is on you. This disappointing season is on you. The pulsating heat from a fan base that doesn’t accept mediocrity is now squarely on you.”

Since hitting rock bottom, Riley has revamped the defensive staff bringing in fast-rising defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn from crosstown rival UCLA. Supporting Riley and Lynn is former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz , who guided the Bison to a 60-11 record with two national championships.

Many Trojans analysts feel the Entz hire could have the same impact Marv Goux had on the John McKay and John Robinson teams. Goux produced 11 All-Americans and coached on five national championship teams during his 25 seasons at Southern California. While Entz is far from being “Mr. Trojan,” he will provide the stability Riley desperately needs as assistant head coach and working with the linebackers.

The final piece of the puzzle is secondary coach Doug Belk , who coordinated Houston Cougars’ “Fifth Ward Defense.” Belk was assessed by Riley during spring practices , “He (Belk) does a great job of being able to relate to guys but holding them accountable in areas that are very important.”

What makes that quote stand out to me is about accountability, something Riley wasn’t holding former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to.

This new attitude looked hopeful in recruiting when in March, the Trojans landed a pair of five-star defensive linemen in Justus Terry from Manchester HS (Manchester, GA) and Isaiah Gibson from Warner Robins HS (Warner Robins, GA).

What seemed to be a major coup turned the other direction last week as both Terry and Gibson have decommitted from Southern California. The allure of playing for Kirby Smart and Georgia seems to be weighing more on the situation as Gibson recently committed and Terry has multiple Crystal Balls to the Dawgs.

It goes to show the lengths Riley, Lynn, Entz, and Belk have to go to revamp Southern California’s defense. I feel we can all agree, a disciplined defense next season that has a structure and accountability should improve - I cannot imagine this defense even close to regressing. Riley knows the impact players he has on offense need to be on defense, and the rotation on the defensive line has to be developed especially in Big Ten play where Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon have some of the top units in the country.

I feel these moves will pay a guaranteed improved dividend, beyond that it is up to the new ‘Trojan Troika’ to validate their resumes in Troy. Lynn can boast he developed the first defensive player draft in the 2024 NFL Draft in EDGE rusher Laiatu Latu. Entz and Belk have similar resumes of success with suffocating defenses. This will only pay off if Riley allows the defense the ability to be successful, it won’t be Top 10 soon, but a mediocre one that can make timely stops with the potent offenses Riley is known for will make the College Football Playoff.