What’s the definition of insanity again? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result?
That might be the unofficial motto of the USC Trojans football program since the end of the Pete Carroll era, though with some slight tweaks here and there. And perhaps no season better epitomizes the program and its direction than the first half of 2026 in Los Angeles.
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SC entered the season with clear, defined expectations: make the College Football Playoff and return to national relevance after years of frustrations, missed opportunities, and disappointments. The schedule was tough, with home games against Oregon, Ohio State and Washington, and away games at Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana and UCLA.
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USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a play during the game between the USC Trojans and the San Jose State Spartans on Aug. 29, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. (Icon Sportswire)
But elite teams win big games against other top teams. Oregon was the first opportunity for SC to show they belonged at that elite level, and they did the opposite. The Ducks gained over 500 yards on offense, even though backup quarterback Dylan Raiola replaced Dante Moore after Moore’s injury on a terrible USC tackle.
Even though the score was 27-27 in the fourth quarter and SC’s defense seemed to get a stop on a long third down, a trademark poorly timed, and frankly absurd and ridiculous, roughing the passer penalty gave the Ducks a free first down. Fast forward 10 minutes later and it was yet another Lincoln Riley-era loss.
Still, one loss in the modern era isn’t a death sentence and Saturday night against the Washington Huskies provided an opportunity for USC to show that the OU loss wasn’t a definitive statement on the quality of the team. And yet, despite Washington being a clearly inferior opponent, loudly audible during the game were chants of “Fire Lincoln” from the USC student section. Even on a miserable, 100-degree day in LA.
One of the reasons the students were so frustrated? Just look at the tackling effort on a UW touchdown in the third quarter to extend their lead to 21-10.
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How often do you hear an announcer just come right out and say that a team’s effort and execution was “awful?” That’s how bad it was.
Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., on Sept. 13, 2025. (Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images)
The Trojans came back to win 25-21, thanks in part to a strip-sack scoop and score from sophomore defense lineman Jakheem Stewart, but it was yet another example of how things under Riley are always going to be the way they are.
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Seemingly as always, USC had multiple big plays or key opportunities canceled out by terrible penalties. Jayden Maiava had a terrible interception on a second quarter drive, then woefully underthrew a wide open receiver in the fourth quarter with a chance to salt away the game.
Again in the second, SC had a 16-yard completion wiped away by an illegal formation penalty. The easiest type of penalty to avoid. That same drive, on 3rd and 2, Maiava hit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for a 37-yard touchdown. That too was called back for an…illegal formation penalty. Instead of a 17-7 lead, SC punted, and the Huskies promptly went 80 yards for a touchdown and 14-10 lead.
The ensuing USC drive, Maiva found Boobie Feaster for a five-yard gain on 3rd and 6, setting up an easy 4th and 1 from the UW 42. Instead, lineman Alani Noa was hit with a dead ball 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pulling a UW defender off his quarter. 4th and 1 and a chance to score turned into 4th and 16 and a punt.
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Then, in the third, Dixon-Wyatt got a 15-yard unsportsmanlike of his own for retaliating to a hit, turning 3rd and 7 into 3rd and 22. And again, in the 4th, up 25-21 with 5:37 to go and the ball at the UW 45, Maiva underthrew a wide open Tanook Hines to force SC to punt.
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Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans looks on prior to a game against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
It’s just the same long, long list of mistakes, and it’s clear SC fans have had enough. And already and immediately, the hot seat rumblings have gotten louder and louder. Even with Riley’s massive buyout.
USC’s invested heavily in NIL, upgrading their facilities, and on the coaching staff around Riley. The reward? Possibly the most underwhelming 5-1 record in college football and little hope of beating elite, well-coached teams like Ohio State or Indiana.
Letting the status quo continue? That’s the definition of insanity.
