Lincoln Riley was beaming.
The USC coach mentioned he noticed it when his group got here again from an 17-point deficit in opposition to Texas A&M to claim a 35-31 victory in the Las Vegas Bowl.
He mentioned he may really feel it within the locker room.
“There’s a toughness and a hardness that’s creating inside this program proper now,” Riley mentioned.
However how a lot ought to be product of this?
As a lot as Riley raved concerning the resilience of the Trojans, the truth is that they have been a 7-6 group this season.
Psychological fortitude is vital, however so is bodily expertise and USC seems as if it could be short on that in varied components of the sphere once more subsequent 12 months.
On the offensive line. On the defensive position. Within the secondary. At quarterback.
Sophomore receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon had showcase video games in opposition to Texas A&M, however don’t overlook that Miller Moss threw six touchdown passes within the Vacation Bowl final 12 months. Moss was supplanted as USC’s starting quarterback final month and has since transferred to Louisville.
Moss’ alternative, Jayden Maiava, was inconsistent in his three regular-season begins, and he was inconsistent once more on Friday night time, as three of his passes have been intercepted earlier than he led the Trojans’ comeback.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava seems to go underneath strain from Texas A&M defensive lineman Cashius Howell through the Las Vegas Bowl Friday.
(David Becker / Getty Photos)
Riley might be applauded for his creating a never-give-up tradition, however he doesn’t have many believers exterior of his personal locker room.
The 400 sections, that are made up of the upper-most seats at Allegiant Stadium, have been completely empty on Friday night time. The 300 sections have been, too.
There have been rows and rows of vacant seats elsewhere within the 65,000-seat venue, serving as a visible illustration of what occurred to USC in its third season underneath Riley.
The followers misplaced hope.
At this level, Riley remaining on this downward trajectory feels significantly extra seemingly than him guiding the Trojans again to nationwide prominence — and even respectability.
They have been 8-5 final 12 months and 11-2 earlier than that, and why would anybody imagine their slide gained’t proceed?
The Trojans are 20 years faraway from their since-vacated national championship in 2004. With each passing season, the extra the Pete Carroll era seems like an aberration as a substitute of a sensible normal to which this system ought to be held.
Redshirt sophomore security Kamari Ramsey mentioned he determined to return to USC subsequent season somewhat than declare for the NFL draft, partially, as a result of he believed within the route the Trojans are headed.
“Clearly, this season didn’t go the best way we wished, however the combat we confirmed each sport, within the wins and the losses, simply confirmed me the kind of program we’re,” Ramsey mentioned.
Ramsey isn’t essentially an outlier, however his view isn’t shared by everybody both. USC simply misplaced 19 gamers to the switch portal.
Riley’s first two recruiting lessons included a dozen top-100 gamers. 9 of them are gone.
Riley has achieved what he may to characterize this season as a step ahead, and he argued the Las Vegas Bowl victory was proof of that.
USC’s Mason Cobb (13) and Braylan Shelby (34) react after making a play in opposition to the Texas A&M through the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday.
(David Becker / Getty Photos)
“We didn’t flinch,” he mentioned. “We’re a reasonably battle-tested group. We’ve been by means of quite a bit this 12 months. We’ve been in numerous large video games.”
To his level, the 5 of the Trojans’ six losses have been by a landing or much less.
“There wasn’t something on this sport that might occur the place I assumed we might completely flinch,” Riley mentioned.
Quite than lament the erratic play of Maiava through the first three quarters, Riley praised him for a way he carried out within the fourth.
“He caught with it,” mentioned Riley, who added that he was “very assured” with Maiava as his quarterback shifting ahead.
Riley must observe what he’s educating.
The thrill that was produced by his first season at USC looks like one thing from the distant previous. Anticipation has been step by step changed by dread.
The Trojans can’t maintain any momentum. They’re shedding gamers within the switch portal. They’re missing in expertise in comparison with the highest groups of their new convention.
Riley can’t waver.
