Lincoln Riley relying on depth for USC’s second year in Big Ten

LAS VEGAS — The Trojans are looking to rebound after a season of underachievement in the Big Ten, and their head coach continues to add quality depth for a challenging 2025 campaign.

Lincoln Riley found out the hard way about the speed, physicality and coaching it takes to succeed in the Big Ten. After all, USC lost five of its’ first seven games in Big Ten play, including the first four on the road. The Trojans struggled so much that Riley benched Riley Moss for Jayden Maiava down the stretch. Not to mention USC’s defense finished 77th nationally in yards allowed per game.

Which is why Riley made it a priority to add key pieces from the transfer portal. He put an emphasis on getting stronger on both lines, so the Trojans can hold their own in the trenches. Now the players have more determination than ever before, and believe they can win at high level this fall. So Riley’s main focus is getting his team to play up to their potential.

Everyone is approaching fall camp with a goal of improving. There are more leaders this time around, elite talent at the skill positions and the coaching staff has familiarity. The month of August is going to be grueling as Riley builds a squad that’ll compete and hold up the USC standard. Still, it’s going to come down to who wants it the most, and Riley expects some individuals to emerge from the shadows. He’s confident that the Trojans are trending up in the right direction, and feels everything is coming full circle.

“I think with our current team seeing how our roster has evolved on all sides, especially defensively after the huge improvements that we made a year ago, with the championship-caliber depth that started to be established across the board is something that we all have worked hard for,” Riley said. “It’s been a long journey to work towards that point, but it’s pretty exciting to watch unfold right now.”

The defense continues to make strides under second-year Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn. Riley wants USC’s defense to be more stingy against the run, and attack the ball in the secondary. After finishing 98th in the FBS against the pass last year, it’s obvious the secondary can’t be a liability again. Despite only returning two starters, Riley thinks the Trojans can make the biggest improvement defensively.

“We have more guys that can play multiple positions, and more competition,” he said. “I think we have better natural pass rushers, and we certainly have more size I think that’s going to create some problems for people in the run game.”

Maiava is stepping more into a leadership role for the offense, and has more knowledge of the playbook. The quarterback started the final four games of 2024, and won three of those contests, including the bowl victory over Texas A&M. Maiava’s only loss was to a Notre Dame team that wound up playing for the National Championship. His maturation process is encouraging to Riley, and he can’t wait for Maiava to spread his wings in Big Ten play.

“I think him (Maiava) continuing to find his voice as a leader, which he’s really grown and I think matured and really become more comfortable with,” the 41-year old coach said.

The schedule set up nicely for USC to be on cruise control entering a showdown at Illinois towards the end of September. Despite having to play Michigan and Notre Dame in back-to-back weeks in October, USC receives a bye-week before and after those matchups. If the Trojans can reach November with only one loss, the sky’s the limit to what they can accomplish the rest of the way. Regardless, the team is better equipped to handle the Big Ten gauntlet in year two, and Riley is confident that the best is yet to come for his 2025 squad.

“Very excited for year two in a great conference and all the great matchups and all that’s getting ready to unfold, and certainly looking forward to taking this USC football team into the Big Ten here in year two to compete.