Lincoln Riley confident USC is ready for breakthrough College Football Playoff run
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 28, 2026, 11:11 PM
Last updated Jul 28, 2026
Lincoln Riley expressed confidence in his USC football team during the Big Ten media days in Chicago. He believes the Trojans are better equipped for success than in past years, citing improvements in leadership, NIL support, and facilities. USC has made significant strides since Riley's arrival, including cultivating talent like Heisman winner Caleb Williams. Riley emphasized that he expects his team to compete for championships as they seek their first College Football Playoff appearance. The Trojans are preparing for the upcoming season with a renewed focus on both offense and defense under new coordinator Gary Patterson.
- •Lincoln Riley spoke at Big Ten media days in Chicago on July 28, 2026.
- •Riley claims USC is more equipped for success than in previous seasons.
- •Improvements include leadership changes and a new football facility.
- •USC is looking to make its first College Football Playoff appearance.
- •The Trojans are under the guidance of defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.
- 11:11 PMYahoo Sports — Lincoln Riley says this USC team is more equipped to win than past iterations: 'That's not a hope or a wish. Those are facts'
"The Trojans are eyeing their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, and their coach is talking a big game.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:39 PMHow many losses are acceptable for Michigan Football in 2026?
- NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:34 PMNotre Dame gets an even better jersey patch deal than Ohio State
NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:29 PMPetitti reiterates Big 10's push for 24-team CFP- NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:21 PMBig Ten media days: Illinois’ Bret Bielema says SEC wants to live in 2005; Tony Petitti talks CFP expansion
- NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:00 PMJon Sumrall Wasting No Time Sustainably Turning the Gators Around
- NCAAF•Jul 28, 2026, 11:00 PMMatt Campbell Prediction Would Have Penn State Smiling in College Football Playoffs
