Polarizing college football analyst signals must-do alarm bells for Lincoln Riley, USC
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Polarizing college football analyst signals must-do alarm bells for Lincoln Riley, USC originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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USC Trojans football coach Lincoln Riley seems to think that his national championship window is open, which has certainly made college football analysts cautious about penciling them in as a CFP contender.
Riley has been under scrutiny for not getting the job done when the calendar turns to November, which college football podcast host Josh Pate broke down on a recent episode of Josh Pate's College Football Show.
"This is really hard to see for USC," Pate said of a potential College Football Playoff appearance, much less a national title bid. "Even though this is Lincoln's best roster that he's had there so far."
Some must-see games for the Trojans include marquee matchups against Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Washington, among others.
Despite Pate's rough comments, Riley has said in recent months that he is confident his team's window is now or never.
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"It's May, right? But looking at it in May, there's definitely a real difference. It's tangible. It's not just hope," Riley said, per CBS Sports. "The program has taken steps, not only in talent acquisition and building the roster, but there's also teaching them to win, and the progression that comes with that. I know— I've seen — the real steps we've taken on the field. I've seen the signs off the field."
Riley added that even if Trojan fans have started to look the other way regarding his tenure, the objective remains the same.
"We were close enough last year to taste it," Riley said. regarding the CFP. "I mean, literally snaps away from being right in it. I know we have absolutely taken steps. Honestly, now, it's just time to go do it. It's time. The program's ready for it. I caught some flak from saying at the end of the year that I thought we had opened up a window, but it's true. It's how I feel."
Riley isn't far off. A last-second loss in Champaign in late September against Illinois was the beginning of a few tough defeats, including losses to Oregon and Notre Dame, that knocked them out of contention.
With a clean slate and Jayden Maiava returning at quarterback, we'll see if Riley's words hold up.
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Only time will tell, though.
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