LOS ANGELES — The joyous celebrations from the Penn State locker room echoed through the LA Coliseum on Saturday night, while reporters awaited USC head coach Lincoln Riley to comment on yet another disappointing loss.
One Nittany Lion shouted, “We own L.A.!” while another added, “L.A. is our city!”
When Riley finally addressed the media, he expressed his frustration over what he called a “really difficult loss.” USC suffered a heart-wrenching 33-30 defeat to the fourth-ranked team in the nation in overtime, after initially leading by two touchdowns at halftime and holding a seven-point advantage in the fourth quarter. They even had a chance to secure victory with a drive into Penn State territory in the final minutes of regulation.
This latest second-half failure was particularly painful for USC, marking their third loss in one-score games this season. Earlier, the Trojans had faced narrow defeats against Michigan and Minnesota in the Big Ten.
“The reality is we’ve played the toughest schedule in the country the first six games and we’ve had a chance to win every single game,” Riley remarked. “That’s hard to do. To put yourself in the position to win these games is really tough.”
He acknowledged the outside perspective on the team’s performance. “I understand that good is not going to be seen by the outside world right now because they’re going to focus on our record and the fact that we’ve lost three games on the last play,” he said. “I understand it. We’ve got to do a better job at the end of games. I have to do a better job, our coaches, our players.”
With a record of 3-3, USC’s chances of making the College Football Playoff are virtually non-existent, even if they win the remainder of their games. They have lost eight of their last 13 games over the past year, matching the poorest performance stretch of former coach Clay Helton.
The crowd of 75,250 in attendance was noticeably less enthusiastic, reflecting the diminishing excitement surrounding the program since Riley’s arrival three years ago. Pockets of Penn State fans made their presence felt, urging for more noise directed at their team.
When asked about his accountability for the program’s state, Riley responded strongly. “It always falls to me. When have I ever shied from the responsibility? I always take it,” he declared. “Believe me, there’s nobody taking more responsibility than I am.”
Since Pete Carroll’s departure amid an NCAA investigation in 2010, USC has struggled to find a suitable coach. Kiffin was dismissed in a dramatic fashion, Sarkisian’s tenure was short-lived due to personal issues, and Clay Helton held the reins for seven largely forgettable seasons.
After Helton’s firing early in the 2021 season, former athletic director Mike Bohn sought a coach capable of restoring the program’s glory, ultimately hiring Riley, who achieved success at Oklahoma prior to his move to USC.
Riley had high hopes as he led the Trojans to an impressive record in his debut year, but setbacks against Utah and Tulane diminished those aspirations. His decision to retain defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, despite mounting criticism, added to the challenges he faced.
This year, while the defense has shown improvement under a new coordinator, the offense has struggled, particularly in the absence of former Heisman winner Caleb Williams. Backup quarterback Miller Moss has struggled, throwing multiple interceptions.
In Saturday’s game, USC showcased their offensive skill in the first half, with creative plays, including a standout 75-yard rush by freshman Quinten Joyner. However, in the second half, Penn State’s tight end Tyler Warren dominated with a record-breaking 224 receiving yards.
Riley acknowledged the challenges of defending against Penn State’s potent offensive plays and noted the critical fourth-quarter plays that allowed Penn State to equalize.
USC had a chance to clinch the game but an interception by Moss disrupted their final drive, leading to overtime. In a cruel twist of fate, Penn State sealed the victory with a field goal after USC failed to convert their own.
Moss described the loss as “excruciating” but expressed optimism about the team’s potential. Riley, deeply affected by the recent challenges, noted the toll it has taken on his personal life, saying he hardly saw his players all week as he worked tirelessly to prepare for the game.
“It’s just a really difficult loss. There’s really no way to sugarcoat that,” he conceded.