Leave it to the USC students, skilled at spotting a phony, to know what they were seeing.
asserted
they → leave → what
Someone who keeps skating by with a D in pass-fail courses.
asserted
who → keep → courses
An individual who is constantly served at the commissary without a meal card.
asserted
who → serve → card
A person who takes credit for a spotless corner in an otherwise-filthy dorm room.
asserted
who → take → room
Sizing up the situation early in the third quarter Saturday at the Coliseum, those USC students rendered their verdict.
asserted
students → size → verdict
“Fire Lincoln!” they chanted, after it became clear their Trojans were in for an unexpected fight against an undermanned team.
asserted
Trojans → fire → team
“Fire Lincoln!” they continued, after the offense sputtered and the defense acted like it was playing two-hand tag.
asserted
it → fire → tag
“Fire Lincoln!” they concluded, after once again watching the same slop led by the same coach.
asserted
they → fire → coach
As one longtime observer of USC football under Lincoln Riley said when it was over, the Trojans having somehow prevailed for a meritless 25-21 victory over Washington, the takeaway is frequently that he can’t believe the Trojans won — or lost — after way too many games.
asserted
Trojans → say → games
When the Trojans win it’s often in undeserving fashion after a slipshod showing.
asserted
it → win → showing
When they lose it’s often to teams that have no business being within a touchdown of the Trojans.
asserted
that → lose → Trojans
This is the sign of a program that rarely does what it should under the circumstances.
asserted
it → do → circumstances
One that needs massive juice boxes hoisted on the sideline to generate energy.
asserted
that → need → energy
Needing a last-minute defensive stop to prevail against a team down to its fourth-string running back, the Trojans celebrated as if they had won something meaningful.
asserted
they → need → something
Defensive coordinator Gary Patterson exchanged a hug and a hand slap in the press box as if he was headed to the College Football Playoff.
asserted
he → exchange → Playoff
Riley spoke of “a lot to be excited about” and being “proud of fighting” after his offense repeatedly had trouble simply lining up in a legal formation.
asserted
offense → speak → formation
Only quarterback Jayden Maiava, who sprinted off the field before looking like he would rather be anywhere else than talking about this game afterward, exhibited any sort of disappointment.
asserted
he → sprint → disappointment
Maybe like his vocal classmates in the stands, Maiava knows what he’s seeing.
asserted
he → know → what
This column is not intended to call for Riley’s job; it’s to question what school officials think they’re getting by sticking with him or whether anyone truly believes this season will end in the CFP.
asserted
season → intend → CFP
A quick recap of the Trojans’ last four games should provide a primer on what’s ahead.
asserted
what → provide → primer
Does this sound like the resume of one of the nation’s top 12 teams?
asserted
this → sound → teams
Should it inspire confidence that Year 5 under Riley is any different than what preceded it?
asserted
what → inspire → it
At this point, a 7-5 finish feels more likely than 10-2.
asserted
finish → feel → 10
Having played five of its first six games at home, USC (5-1) now must finish with four of six on the road, where every previous season under Riley has gone to die.
asserted
season → play → Riley
Any road to redemption in 2026 must start with back-to-back victories at Penn State and Wisconsin, two of the nation’s most unforgiving environments.
asserted
road → start → environments
The Nittany Lions will greet the Trojans with a “White Out” that could turn into a whitewash.
uncertain
that → greet → whitewash
The Badgers could roast the Trojans like one more beer-marinated brat on the grill.
uncertain
Badgers → roast → grill
Even a split of those games — the most likely scenario — likely dooms USC’s CFP hopes given the final stretch.
asserted
split → doom → stretch
The Trojans must play Ohio State at home before facing Indiana and UCLA on the road.
asserted
Trojans → play → road
That’s two, and possibly three, more losses.
uncertain
That → ’ → ?
Is anyone really taking Riley and the Trojans over Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers at this point?
asserted
anyone → take → point
Even Bob Chesney’s Bruins, in their first season under the coach, appear to be a far more cohesive outfit with a much higher upside.
asserted
Bruins → appear → upside
Give Riley credit for one thing — his players appeared to leave those silly juice boxes untouched on the sideline Saturday.
asserted
players → give → sideline
That left the student section to pump up the volume when it came to this team and the man in charge.
asserted
it → leave → charge
If they’re out on Lincoln Riley, who’s still in?
asserted
who → ’re → Riley
The Aporia
