Just last Saturday, it seemed like the Lincoln Riley era in Los Angeles was nearing its end.
asserted
era → seem → end
SC went into Madison as a sizable favorite over the Wisconsin Badgers and laid what can only be described as, charitably, an egg.
asserted
what → go → egg
For the first time in his coaching career, a Lincoln Riley team scored just seven points in a game.
asserted
team → score → game
Predictably, it did not work, setting Wisconsin up with outstanding field position and a score.
asserted
it → work → position
The Trojans looked poorly prepared and poorly coached, with senior quarterback Jayden Maiava taking multiple atrocious intentional grounding penalties and throwing two picks, a muffed catch on a Badgers kickoff leading to a missed opportunity before halftime, not calling timeout when the SC defense was misaligned on a pivotal fourth-and-2, leading to a Wisconsin touchdown, and an incredible -17 net rushing yards.
asserted
defense → look → touchdown
Riley was mentally checked out in LA, was one common sentiment.
asserted
sentiment → check → LA
USC's athletic department had already started putting together funds to potentially clear Riley's rumored $70 million buyout.
asserted
department → start → buyout
And fans and analysts were putting together wish lists of potential new coaches for 2027 and beyond.
asserted
fans → put → 2027
Then, Saturday happened.
asserted
Saturday → happen → ?
USC hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes, still heavily favored despite starting backup quarterback Luke Fahey.
asserted
USC → host → Fahey
OSU has a top three defense, arguably the best player in the country in Jeremiah Smith, and a wealth of big game experience under head coach Ryan Day.
asserted
OSU → have → Day
And sure enough, the Trojans dominated.
asserted
Trojans → dominate → ?
Ohio State dominated time of possession and racked up yardage thanks to some garbage time drives, but never really looked like they had much of a chance.
asserted
they → dominate → chance
When set up with a first-and-goal inside the 1-yard-line, the Buckeyes still couldn't get in the end zone.
asserted
Buckeyes → set → zone
USC, which has been unimpressive for most of the season, looked like a totally different team.
asserted
which → look → team
Star freshman Trent Mosley took a screen pass on the second play of the game for a long touchdown.
asserted
Mosley → take → touchdown
Mark Bowman provided the highlight of the year from a tight end, hurdling an Ohio State defender and running through tackles on a huge catch and run.
asserted
Bowman → provide → catch
And the Trojans much-maligned defense grabbed an opportune turnover, forced a fumble that was inexplicably not reviewed, and got stop after stop when they needed it.
asserted
they → malign → it
Needless to say, a win over the number two team in the country was a season, and potentially program, altering turn of events.
asserted
win → say → events
And Riley had a well, interesting, time after the conclusion, including a run-in with the Ohio State athletic director, and an unusual prepared statement that he read during postgame media availability.
asserted
he → have → availability
Buckeyes staff and players were walking off the Coliseum field in the tunnel, and Riley tried to walk to the same area with his family and security guard.
asserted
Riley → walk → family
But an OSU staffer held him up, and after a few seconds, athletic director Ross Bjork can be seen gesturing back toward Riley and saying something toward him.
asserted
Bjork → hold → him
Whatever it was, Riley was not happy about it, clearly saying some very profane phrases back as he was finally let through.
asserted
he → say → phrases
Another angle more clearly showed Bjork saying something indistinguishable as he left the field.
asserted
he → show → field
Confrontations happen, particularly after a heated game between two proud programs.
asserted
Confrontations → happen → programs
Things got even a bit more unusual though, in the news conference.
asserted
Things → get → conference
Riley, who already addressed speculation about his commitment to USC in a midweek news conference, saying LA is where he wants to be, read a prepared statement about his job and the Trojans program.
asserted
he → address → job
This time, clearly with a bit more, shall we say, fesity language toward the media.
asserted
we → say → media
"This program is built on internal joy, not external applause," he said.
asserted
he → build → joy
I said before this game that I'm the right person for this job, and as long as all those people know that, that's all I care about.
asserted
I → say → that
I appreciate being part of this university, and all it does.
asserted
it → appreciate → university
I appreciate our kids and our staff, and I'm going to continue to fight on because that's what being a Trojan is all about.
asserted
being → appreciate → what
Not exactly what you'd expect to hear from a head coach coming off a huge win over the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, but it's hard to blame him for being a bit more defense than usual.
asserted
it → expect → him
Riley's faced a long list of questions about his job status the past few weeks, but again, those questions are legitimate.
asserted
questions → face → status
The Oregon Ducks are far from the team most expected in the preseason, and the Trojans defense let backup Dylan Raiola walk all over them in a 41-27 loss.
asserted
Raiola → expect → loss
That Wisconsin performance was dreadful, and looks even worse with the Badgers' 30-0 loss to Iowa on Saturday.
asserted
performance → look → Saturday
There have been few signature wins in the Riley era, until this one, and after an offseason marketing campaign revolving around the "championship window" now being open, sitting at 6-2 with their season on the brink is simply not good enough.
asserted
sitting → revolve → brink
But he deserves credit for the OSU win and how it played out.
asserted
it → deserve → win
USC looked like a different team; prepared, focused, intense, and aggressive.
asserted
USC → look → team
Why they don't always look like that?
asserted
they → look → that
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
