To many, USC's 48-41 win over Colorado on Saturday looked like the same team as last year -- a team with a national champion-level offense paired with a 3-win defense. USA Today listed the Trojans atop its "Misery Index" following the game, writing that USC "can't be taken seriously" following a game in which it surrendered 564 yards and touchdowns on four of its final possessions.
According to Lincoln Riley, though, anyone linking the 2023 Trojans with the 2022 outfit just doesn't know what they're looking at.
"It’s not really the same issues, though. I don’t agree with it," Riley said after the game. "I feel like even right now, when something doesn’t go our way — we’re five games in, we’re taking that litmus test right now — when something doesn’t go our way, it doesn’t look like last year. Not to the trained eye. Not to the coach."
Riley said USC's issues were allowing Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders to escape the pocket -- Sanders threw for 371 yards on 8.2 per attempt and four touchdowns, and also rushed for a 25-yard touchdown -- and open field tackling.
"We’ll obviously have to go back and look at the tape, but they put you in some of those positions where it’s either going to be one-on-one on the perimeter if you get those extra hats to the run game, or you’re going to give them potentially favorable numbers in the box. You’ve gotta be able to control the line of scrimmage and make some of those. We had some missed tackles in the backfield a couple times where they came out that we didn’t get gapped out," he said.
Five games in, USC averages 5.54 yards per play allowed, a year full yard improvement from 2022 (6.53). The Trojans are allowing 24.2 points per game (29.2 in 2022), a 132.28 opposing passer rating (140.91), and 147.8 yards per game on the ground (159.79).
Two areas where USC legitimately excels on defense are in pass rush (3.8 sacks per game) and turnovers, having forced seven in five games.
However, all numbers above must be taken with a grain of salt given that USC's first four opponents are a combined 3-15 on the season.
After hosting Arizona this coming Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), USC will then brace for four AP Top 20 opponents in their next five games: at Notre Dame, home against No. 18 Utah (with Cam Rising likely back for the game), a trip to Cal, and then back-to-back games with No. 7 Washington and No. 8 Oregon.
Washington and Oregon currently rank fourth and second, respectively, in scoring offense. (USC is first.)
Does Riley still have faith in coordinator Alex Grinch heading into that stretch?
“Yes, I do.”
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.