USC coach Lincoln Riley sets clear expectation of excellence entering 2026 season
The USC Trojans have a chip on their shoulder that is impossible to ignore. Trojans coach Lincoln Riley has begun to recognize the magnitude of what the season might bring.
USC coach Lincoln Riley sets clear expectation of excellence entering 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The USC Trojans remain one of the few Big Ten teams for which the jury is still out on their standing amongst college football's elite programs.
But for coach Lincoln Riley, his fifth season leading USC has the makings of a special one, he told On3. “Taking this over, you knew you had to go fight like hell just to try to get this window opened,” Riley said. “And we’re at a point right now where there’s a lot to be excited about and a lot in front of us.
It’s been a lot of work for a lot of people, a lot of commitment from a lot of people to get there, and it should be a lot of fun these next few years. ” But a major key for the Trojans is retention, which Riley was able to latch onto when quarterback Jayden Maiva returned for his redshirt senior season. “He has made as much progress in two years as, honestly, any quarterback that I can remember having,” Riley said.
“I still think there’s still so much more room for growth with this kid, and that’s what’s exciting. He’s played some really good ball, but I still think we’ve seen just some flashes of how good this guy really can be. ” MORE: Iowa football suffers major setback from NCAA stemming from recruiting violations in 2023 Riley said he likes where his team sits entering this season.