Latest news with #MattLeinart
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The Athletic names USC as one of the most valuable college football programs in the US
The USC Trojans have a large following and are one of the more popular teams in college football. USC has had historic players on the same team -- such as Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush -- and a generational talent such as Caleb Williams. The Trojans have one of the most talked about coaches in college football: Lincoln Riley When USC is playing good football, it is great for the entire landscape of college football. In the latest ON3 article presenting The Atheltic's ranking of the top 25 most valuable programs in college football, USC cracks the list at No. 8. Here is writer Nick Kosko's thoughts on USC's ranking: "The Athletic used a bit of a caveat here, saying the Trojans are basically trading in Pac-12 payouts for the Big Ten revenue share. That's a big difference to add onto their brand, despite average to above-average success since their dominance in the mid 2000s. The brand power is strong, as is the LA market and population. Ultimately, the outlet put this college football program in the Alabama, Oklahoma territory in terms of history compared to others." The Trojans were already a big deal in the Pac-12, but switching over to the Big Ten has come with benefits such as more money and attention. More eyes and more attention can also mean higher standards and higher expectations which Lincoln Riley has failed to meet. The Trojans have to adjust to playing in the best conference in college football. Patience is growing thin. This year will hopefully be the year we see Trojan football rise to the occasion. With a good season in the Big Ten, USC's popularity and revenue could skyrocket.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why the Bears' Caleb Williams is poised for breakout second season
Is USC alum Caleb Williams poised for a breakout second season with the Chicago Bears? Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart weighs in. Why the Bears' Caleb Williams is poised for breakout second season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC Legend Loves How Trojans are 'Recruiting Our A-- Off'
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." Advertisement 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. Advertisement USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches pregame 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. Advertisement 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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How this former NFL star fumbled a date with Rihanna
The post How this former NFL star fumbled a date with Rihanna appeared first on ClutchPoints. Love was on the brain for this former NFL star, but he fumbled. Matt Leinart recently opened up about how his date with Rihanna failed due to a cosmetic flaw. The former Arizona Cardinals quarterback shared the humbling experience on his Throwbacks podcast, which he co-hosts with Entourage actor Jerry Ferrara. In a conversation with Ferrara and show guest Josh Richman, Leinart shared how he asked Rihanna to a date at Teddy's nightclub in L.A. The date was in fact his third attempt to get the singer on a date, but shared that because of the blister on his lip for staying out in the sun too long, he was embarrassed to look the singer in the eye. Despite feeling uneasy on the date with RiRi, his friends hyped him up to tell him that the blister was no big deal and not to worry about it. While the date ultimately failed anyway, with the singer no longer showing interest in pursuing anything further, he has no regrets, as he was able to meet his wife Josie, whom he later married in 2018. They also share their sons Cannon, 3, and Cayson, 5. The former quarterback also shares his 18-year-old son Cole with his ex-girlfriend Brynn Cameron. Rihanna Relationship with A$AP Rocky While Leinhart and Rihanna didn't end up working out, the singer was also able to start a life with longtime friend-turned-lover, A$AP Rocky. The two began dating in late 2020, after being friends for nearly a decade. The couple now share two children, RZA Athelston Mayers (born May 2022) and Riot Rose Mayers (born August 2023). She is also currently pregnant with their third child. Rihanna previously shared that in 2023 that she loves seeing him as a father. 'I love him differently as a dad. It's a turn on,' she told Page Six at the time. She mentioned in her Harpers Bazaar interview back in February how Rocky reminds her that 'no matter how hard everything is that we're dealing with in our life, in our careers and as parents, he's like, 'Remember when we were friends? Remember when we just used to have fun as friends?'' The singer continued sharing what she loves about the rapper and that she jokingly gets annoyed that Rocky is the favorite for their boys. 'His pureness. His charm. I'm annoyed because my sons sometimes just live for him more than they live for me,' she says. 'And I'm like, 'Did you know who cooked you? Do you know who pushed you out?' And they love him, but when I see it, oh, it's the best.' The feelings are very mutual as the rapper shared back in 2021 that the singer is the 'love of my life.' 'As for what it's like to be in a relationship,' the rapper told GQ during his June/July cover story. 'So much better. So much better when you got 'the One.' She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones.' 'I think when you know, you know,' he added at the time. 'She's the One.' Related: Why Quavo believes NFL players' jewerly is fake Related: 'Drumline' star Jason Weaver becomes honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Matt Leinart opens up about losing his shot at Rihanna after one brutal lip blister ruined their LA date night
Matt Leinart recently shared a surprising story from his past that caught everyone's attention. The former NFL and USC star said he once had a chance to go on a date with . Everything was planned and set up by his friends, and the night was supposed to be special. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But something small and unexpected ruined it all. It wasn't anything Rihanna did and it wasn't bad behavior either. The truth is even more awkward and will leave you wondering how this even happened. Matt Leinart opens up about failed Rihanna date because of lip blister On July 21, 2025, Matt Leinart spoke about the missed opportunity on his 'Throwbacks' podcast, which he co-hosts with , known from Entourage. Their guest, Josh Richman, was the mutual connection who helped Matt Leinart set up a one-on-one with Rihanna years ago at Teddy's nightclub in Los Angeles. Matt Leinart explained that the setup took several tries, this was his third attempt to meet the pop icon. But right before the big night, he developed what he called a 'ginormous blister' on his lip from being out in the sun too long. Matt Leinart couldn't overlook it even if his friends claimed it was nothing major. Laughing at how poorly the evening went, he confessed on the podcast, "I literally could not meet her eyes." He claimed the blister made him excessively self-conscious to be natural and hurt his confidence. That one incident cost him a genuine chance to go on a date with Rihanna. Matt Leinart says wife Josie still teases him about Rihanna Matt Leinart recalls the unsuccessful date years later with a humorous tale. 2018 saw his marriage to Josie Loren; their two sons are Cayson and Cannon. He humorously said his wife often calls him an "idiot" for allowing anything like a blister to destroy his Rihanna shot. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The evening was not great, but the narrative has grown to be Matt Leinart's most hilarious favorite memories. "That was my moment, and I ruined it," he noted. Also Read: FAQs did Matt Leinart talk about his date with Rihanna? He shared the story on July 21, 2025, during his 'Throwbacks' podcast. didn't Matt Leinart's date with Rihanna go well? Matt Leinart had a large lip blister that made him too shy to talk confidently. did Matt Leinart marry after the Rihanna story? He married actress in 2018, and they have two sons.
