‘I Don’t Want To Hear About USC’s Offense Ever Again’ — Hall of Famer Urban Meyer Blasts Lincoln Riley’s Trojans
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Saturday proved to be a difficult day for Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans, who suffered a 41-27 loss against Oregon. As the loss dropped USC to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, Hall of Fame coach Urban Meyer took the opportunity to take a shot at Riley and the Trojans.
Urban Meyer Sends Blunt Message to Lincoln Riley After USC-Oregon Loss
A win over Oregon on Saturday would have been crucial for USC as it continues its goal of a long-awaited College Football Playoff berth, particularly with challenging games against Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana still ahead.
During Friday’s episode of “The Herd,” Meyer described the game as one of the games Riley “has to win.”
Though USC ultimately lost the game, the Trojans’ quarterback Jayden Maiava was hardly the reason for the defeat. He finished with 326 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground, earning an 87.9 PFN’s CFB QB Impact grade.
Freshman wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt also delivered a strong performance, recording seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
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That is why Meyer expressed frustration over the persistent focus on USC’s offensive output while broader operational standards lag.
“I don’t want to hear about USC’s offense ever again,” Meyer said in the latest episode of “The Triple Option” podcast. “Well, they’re great on offense. They want to hide. No one gives a [expletive]. If your focus is nothing but let’s make sure we’re really good on offense, that’s not even 1/3 of the game.
“There’s so many more variables about how tough are you? How is the defense playing? How’s the special team? Are they selfless? I just never hear that.”
In the closing stages of the Oregon game, USC’s defense failed to make the plays needed to secure the win. The Ducks found the end zone on each of their final two possessions to put the game away.
Riley also acknowledged afterward that missed tackles contributed to several explosive plays, saying that the Trojans need to improve their execution and play with greater discipline.
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Meanwhile, Meyer also referenced former Alabama coach Nick Saban as an example of what a complete football team should look like.
“When you played Nick Saban’s team, you didn’t hear, ‘Boy, they’re a great defense.’ No, they were a great offense, great defense, great special teams. They’re tough as [expletive]. They never quit. You know the fourth quarter program. That’s what you would hear.”
Riley is now in his fifth season at USC after leaving Oklahoma following the 2021 season. He arrived in Los Angeles ahead of the 2022 season with the expectation of turning the Trojans into a consistent College Football Playoff contender.
However, USC has failed to reach the CFP through Riley’s first four seasons. Riley and the Trojans will now need improvement across the roster if they hope to establish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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