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USC Legend Loves How Trojans are 'Recruiting Our A-- Off'

USC Legend Loves How Trojans are 'Recruiting Our A-- Off'

Yahoo3 days ago
USC Legend Loves How Trojans are 'Recruiting Our A-- Off' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The USC Trojans have maintained its grip at the top of the 2026 recruiting rankings through July. One USC legend is loving the fact his team is "recruiting our a-- off."
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Past Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart is raving about who the Trojans have lured in. He shared his excited take with Andrew Hughes of The Sporting News during his appearance at the 2025 American Century Championship.
'We're recruiting our a-- off right now. The No. 1 2026 class right now. We've gotten bigger, stronger," Leinart began.
The legendary southpaw passer for USC believes these new additions should erase this flaw from past USC teams, including the 2024 one: Losing leads late.
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USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches pregame warmups.Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
"And, you know, if you go back the last year, there are three or four games where you lose in the last 30 seconds. You know what I mean? You switch that, and all of a sudden, you're 10-2, and it's a whole different ball game," Leinart said.
USC fans have grown vocal about head coach Lincoln Riley and the direction the Trojans are going in. Riley's USC teams have declined in the win/loss category the past two seasons. Leinart also is aware that the recruiting landscape has changed dramatically, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL.
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But he believes USC fans should exercise more patience with Riley and the Trojans.
"They started off strong. We had like 10 or 11 wins. I think this year, we've had a couple of setbacks, but I think what people forget is it does take time, and it takes time, especially with the portal and NIL. It's just a whole different beast now, right?" Leinart said. "You're recruiting against other teams. You're recruiting to keep your roster intact, you, all those things."
But he's loving how his alma mater stands alone as the nation's best recruiting class. This '26 class features two five-stars in tackle Keenyi Pope and tight end Mark Bowman. USC also flipped two Oregon pledges in defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and quarterback Jonas Williams.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Plaschke: At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats
Plaschke: At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Plaschke: At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats

As the fabled fight song heats up and the legendary gesture wags anew, let's get one thing straight about what was once the Los Angeles sports landscape's shining monument. USC football has become a mirage. The greatness is gone. The new tradition is mediocrity. The new heritage is irrelevance. 'Fight on' has become 'Paddle on,' with each ensuing season an exasperating exercise in keeping that Trojan helmet afloat. This is not opinion. This is not hyperbole. This is fact. In the last 16 seasons USC has recorded double-digit victories five times. During that same time span, Alabama has recorded double-digit victories 15 times. Read more: Lincoln Riley 'absolutely' wants to keep USC-Notre Dame game on schedule In the last 16 seasons, USC has had one major bowl victory. During that same span, Ohio State has 10 major bowl victories. Since the departure of Pete Carroll after the 2009 season, the Trojan football program has been rocked by NCAA punishment, roiled by a litany of ill-fitting coaches, betrayed by a string of embarrassing losses, and generally kneecapped by its own hubris. This was once the greatest dynasty in college football history. I know, I was there, and rarely has one team energized and inspired this entire city like Uncle Pete's champions. But watching video from those days is like watching an alien football team on Mars. The current product, with all its failures and excuses, is almost completely unrecognizable. In the past 16 years, the program has dissolved into the equivalent of a mediocre wannabe that no longer competes with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Clemson. USC has basically become the other USC — a South Carolina-type program filled with big aspirations but average results. The Athletic recently ranked college football programs in terms of value. Despite playing in the country's entertainment capital alongside the country's most valuable professional basketball and baseball teams, the Trojans ranked only eighth. They were estimated as being worth nearly $1 billion less than top-ranked Texas, a school that plays in a much smaller market with eight fewer national titles. Which brings us to the doorstep of another seemingly nondescript season, but one framed in a bold-faced question. Lincoln Riley has to be better, right? He has to win double-digit games for only the second time in his four seasons, right? He has to lead the 2025 squad to a bowl game that isn't played in San Diego or Las Vegas, right? Most folks think Riley is not on a hot seat because of the untenable cost of his buyout, reportedly in the neighborhood of $80 million. That better be wrong. If USC wants to return to its former glory, Trojan administrators must hold Riley accountable for further tarnishing that shine. In a billion-dollar industry, with a $200-million football facility currently under construction, USC cannot view its coach through a financial lens, only a football lens. They must insist that he win football games at a rate higher than, say, the guy he replaced. Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Through 40 games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach. Helton was publicly torn from limb to limb, yet Riley gets a pass? Riley is 7-6 without Caleb Williams. He is 3-9 against ranked opponents. He has lost virtually every big game and blown almost every big moment. If he doesn't change the narrative this season, USC needs to change the coach. Read more: Q&A: Why extra-soft toilet paper is part of Chad Bowden's USC football front office strategy The Trojans have stabilized their front office with sharp athletic director Jen Cohen and highly regarded general manager Chad Bowden. They've made huge monetary investments in infrastructure and recruiting. Now it's on Riley. And he needs to get it done now. If Texas A&M can pony up $77.5 million to buy out Jimbo Fisher, USC can find the money to replace Riley. The cost is unimaginable, but the price of falling further behind in an evolving sport where at least a dozen programs have already left them in the dust is even higher. 'I give a lot of credit to our administration … because it's very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats in college football,' Riley said to reporters Thursday at Big Ten media day in Las Vegas. He's right. Everything is there for him to succeed. Read more: USC athletics eliminates a dozen jobs as it manages new revenue sharing expenses Take the 2025 schedule. It's the lightest in years. The Trojans don't play Ohio State. They don't play Penn State. They don't play Indiana. They play Michigan at the Coliseum. Their only tough nonconference game is at Notre Dame. Their only serious hurdle on the road is at Oregon. USC should hold Riley to a standard of 10 wins, which should make the Trojans competitive for one of the 12 playoff spots. Certainly, that's a lot of mandated wins. But at some point, the Trojan administration has to start demanding that they become the Trojans again, and that time is now. They certainly cannot give Riley a grace period because he has the nation's top recruiting class due to arrive in 2026. Riley has been here four years, the talent should be here by now, and he should not be allowed to hold the program hostage until his best class shows up. You want to judge Riley by impactful players? Judge him by this year's quarterback, Jayden Maiava. He is Riley's personal project, having been anointed the starter without offseason competition from the portal. Maiava was both raw and brilliant last year after replacing Miller Moss, going 3-1 as a starter capped by a 17-point comeback in a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. He completed less than 60% of his passes in three of the four starts, and threw six interceptions to offset his 11 touchdown passes, but his athleticism is impressive and his arm is amazing. It says here the new kid has a chance to be great. Riley can remind Trojan fans of his best asset if he can lead the new kid to that greatness. 'His arm talent, the decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special,' Riley said, later repeating, 'He has a chance to be a really, really special player.' And USC has a chance to have a really special season. For sure. For real. For the second time in 17 years. Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats
At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats

Los Angeles Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Los Angeles Times

At sagging USC, Lincoln Riley should be on the hottest of hot seats

As the fabled fight song heats up and the legendary gesture wags anew, let's get one thing straight about what was once the Los Angeles sports landscape's shining monument. USC football has become a mirage. The greatness is gone. The new tradition is mediocrity. The new heritage is irrelevance. 'Fight on' has become 'Paddle on,' with each ensuing season an exasperating exercise in keeping that Trojan helmet afloat. This is not opinion. This is not hyperbole. This is fact. In the last 16 seasons USC has recorded double-digit victories five times. During that same time span, Alabama has recorded double-digit victories 15 times. In the last 16 seasons, USC has had one major bowl victory. During that same span, Ohio State has 10 major bowl victories. Since the departure of Pete Carroll after the 2009 season, the Trojan football program has been rocked by NCAA punishment, roiled by a litany of ill-fitting coaches, betrayed by a string of embarrassing losses, and generally kneecapped by its own hubris. This was once the greatest dynasty in college football history. I know, I was there, and rarely has one team energized and inspired this entire city like Uncle Pete's champions. But watching video from those days is like watching an alien football team on Mars. The current product, with all its failures and excuses, is almost completely unrecognizable. In the past 16 years, the program has dissolved into the equivalent of a mediocre wannabe that no longer competes with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Clemson. USC has basically become the other USC — a South Carolina-type program filled with big aspirations but average results. The Athletic recently ranked college football programs in terms of value. Despite playing in the country's entertainment capital alongside the country's most valuable professional basketball and baseball teams, the Trojans ranked only eighth. They were estimated as being worth nearly $1 billion less than top-ranked Texas, a school that plays in a much smaller market with eight fewer national titles. Which brings us to the doorstep of another seemingly nondescript season, but one framed in a bold-faced question. Lincoln Riley has to be better, right? He has to win double-digit games for only the second time in his four seasons, right? He has to lead the 2025 squad to a bowl game that isn't played in San Diego or Las Vegas, right? Most folks think Riley is not on a hot seat because of the untenable cost of his buyout, reportedly in the neighborhood of $80 million. That better be wrong. If USC wants to return to its former glory, Trojan administrators must hold Riley accountable for further tarnishing that shine. In a billion-dollar industry, with a $200-million football facility currently under construction, USC cannot view its coach through a financial lens, only a football lens. They must insist that he win football games at a rate higher than, say, the guy he replaced. Through 40 games, Riley is 26-14. Through 40 games, Clay Helton was 28-12 as a head coach. Helton was publicly torn from limb to limb, yet Riley gets a pass? Riley is 7-6 without Caleb Williams. He is 3-9 against ranked opponents. He has lost virtually every big game and blown almost every big moment. If he doesn't change the narrative this season, USC needs to change the coach. The Trojans have stabilized their front office with sharp athletic director Jen Cohen and highly regarded general manager Chad Bowden. They've made huge monetary investments in infrastructure and recruiting. Now it's on Riley. And he needs to get it done now. If Texas A&M can pony up $77.5 million to buy out Jimbo Fisher, USC can find the money to replace Riley. The cost is unimaginable, but the price of falling further behind in an evolving sport where at least a dozen programs have already left them in the dust is even higher. 'I give a lot of credit to our administration … because it's very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats in college football,' Riley said to reporters Thursday at Big Ten media day in Las Vegas. He's right. Everything is there for him to succeed. Take the 2025 schedule. It's the lightest in years. The Trojans don't play Ohio State. They don't play Penn State. They don't play Indiana. They play Michigan at the Coliseum. Their only tough nonconference game is at Notre Dame. Their only serious hurdle on the road is at Oregon. USC should hold Riley to a standard of 10 wins, which should make the Trojans competitive for one of the 12 playoff spots. Certainly, that's a lot of mandated wins. But at some point, the Trojan administration has to start demanding that they become the Trojans again, and that time is now. They certainly cannot give Riley a grace period because he has the nation's top recruiting class due to arrive in 2026. Riley has been here four years, the talent should be here by now, and he should not be allowed to hold the program hostage until his best class shows up. You want to judge Riley by impactful players? Judge him by this year's quarterback, Jayden Maiava. He is Riley's personal project, having been anointed the starter without offseason competition from the portal. Maiava was both raw and brilliant last year after replacing Miller Moss, going 3-1 as a starter capped by a 17-point comeback in a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. He completed less than 60% of his passes in three of the four starts, and threw six interceptions to offset his 11 touchdown passes, but his athleticism is impressive and his arm is amazing. It says here the new kid has a chance to be great. Riley can remind Trojan fans of his best asset if he can lead the new kid to that greatness. 'His arm talent, the decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special,' Riley said, later repeating, 'He has a chance to be a really, really special player.' And USC has a chance to have a really special season. For sure. For real. For the second time in 17 years.

The Sports Report: Lincoln Riley says he does want USC to play Notre Dame every year
The Sports Report: Lincoln Riley says he does want USC to play Notre Dame every year

Los Angeles Times

time22 minutes ago

  • Los Angeles Times

The Sports Report: Lincoln Riley says he does want USC to play Notre Dame every year

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The play goes 8-3-5, a combination of outs not seen since 1884, as with runners on first and second in the 3rd, CF Michael Harris II catches a fly ball hit by Triston Casas of the Red Sox and fires to 1B Matt Olson to retire Adam Duvall, who had misjudged the force with which the ball was hit. Olson then fires to 3B Austin Riley to nab Masataka Yoshida, who had tagged up and was trying to advance while the Braves were busy attending to the other runner. In spite of the triple killing, Boston wins the game handily, 7-1. Compiled by the Associated Press That concludes today's newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you'd like to see, email me at To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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