RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Great teams and great programs, in any sport, avoid getting stuck in a familiar trap. The mediocre programs might have a great defense but an atrocious offense, or vice-versa. They have excellence in one part of their roster but subpar quality elsewhere which shipwrecks the whole operation. USC football has been held back in this precise way. It can't continue.
Before Lincoln Riley
In 2017, USC had Sam Darnold slinging the rock superbly, but the Trojans ' defense was nowhere near championship-level -- not on a national scale. The Trojans won the Pac-12 title but were severely outclassed by Notre Dame and Ohio State. They had one half of the loaf but not the whole one.
Alex Grinch
Alex Grinch ruined what could have been a playoff season for USC in 2022. The Trojans' defense cratered and then coughed up the Cotton Bowl. The 2023 season was even worse. Caleb Williams deserved so much better. USC fell short of its enormous potential.
2024 offense
In 2024, D'Anton Lynn righted the ship on defense, but Miller Moss's inconsistency on offense and Lincoln Riley's inability to unlock the running game dragged down the offense, which is what held the team back. This was the one year under Riley in which the offense was the deadweight on the team, but the larger pattern of one side of the ball being inadequate continued.
2025 and the familiar story
In 2025, the defense regressed and USC became an offense-first team which was not quite good enough to compensate for the defense's shortcomings. This is the familiar Lincoln Riley script we know and hate.
2026 offense should be strong
No excuses: Jayden Maiava with healthy running backs and a veteran offensive line should cook in 2026. The only real question is the receivers, but if the O-line gives Maiava plenty of time, it probably shouldn't matter. The USC offense should be able to produce with Maiava getting yet another year under Riley's expertise and play-calling instincts. It has to come together for USC.
USC defensive line is the key
The USC defensive line was simply not ready for prime time last season. It was too young, too unproven, too thin. Now the young pups who got schooled in 2025 have to grow up and show up in 2026. It's that simple. This is likely where USC will rise or fall.
Gary Patterson
Lincoln Riley bet big and trusted that Gary Patterson's lack of coaching activity the past three years wouldn't leave him outflanked or outdated as a strategist. It's up to Patterson to give USC a defense which will make strong offensive showings stand up. The Trojans can't have an Alex Grinch sequel in which they score 42 but allow 45.
It's time for USC to have two sides of the ball playing well in the same game, consistently. It's time for Lincoln Riley to turn the corner in LA.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Complementary football is the puzzle Lincoln Riley hasn't solved
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