USC started the game with a rock-solid performance against LSU and won it 27-20. After this, they played a game, which came out as a surprise. The USC won 48-0 against Utah State. Not a surprise, everyone predicted the results, but the scoreboard was beyond impressive. Then comes a game that highlighted all the flaws in the Trojans’ team. Michigan hit the Trojans with a tight slap with a 27-24 win. But they didn’t stop there. They worked hard on their mistakes and bounced back with a 38-21 win over Wisconsin. However, their happiness was short-lived when they faced another defeat, this time against Minnesota. Many things changed for USC during that game. Do you remember one of Lincoln Riley’s boys getting injured late in that game?

All of us saw Jacobe Covington getting helped to the sidelines and going out of the field. He didn’t even return for the rest of the game in USC’s Week 6 matchup against Minnesota. Jacob was injured during a punt coverage play, and it looks like his injury was quite serious. So, head coach Lincoln Riley, doing his part, appeared before the media and answered all the questions about Covington’s absence.

He started by saying, “He’s been limited this week. Progressed a little bit faster than maybe we would have thought after the game, after the Minnesota game.” Riley added, “And I think we would have all guessed it was probably for sure—no for this week. So kudos to him, the training staff, for pushing it along.” Covington was doing great throughout the five games the Trojans played. Riley also mentioned some of his other players, who could be an option while Covington was absent.

Riley then explained how his team is dealing with Covington’s absence and who he thinks can take his place. “certainly has been limited, yeah, and it’s not him. I mean, certainly look at John. You’re talking about DeCarlos. Obviously, Jalen’s flexibility gives us, I think, the opportunity to do some different things. I think prophet, but certainly factors in there as well. So we’ve got a number of bodies, certainly, that can jump in there and handle it, and we’ve got some different options because of some of the versatility of the pieces that we have crashed.” Riley explained that Jaylin Smith had been a standout there and two of his senior boys can play opposite him, DeCarlos Nicholson and John Humphrey. He mentioned that there is veteran Prophet Brown who’ll also handle the cornerback room. Besides that, let’s look at USC’s game against Minnesota to learn what went wrong for the Trojans that day.

Why did Lincoln Riley’s team fall to Minnesota?

In a 24-17 loss to Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium, USC’s lack of depth was highlighted mainly in the fourth quarter. Eric Gentry, their star quarterback, didn’t travel and Alexander USC’s top defensive lineman left the team a long ago. He’s redshirting before the transfer. However, even though Akili Arnold returned in the third quarter, the USC struggled defensively.

Along with Covington’s injury, one more player also got injured. Starting defensive end Anthony Lucas left early in the fourth quarter due to injury and missed the last 18 snaps. That allowed Minnesota to score to tie the game and then win the game. After Jacobe Covington left the field because of an injury, a lot was on the young and inexperienced players.

Anthony Beavers Jr., who replaced Gentry at SAM linebacker, was part of a quarter charged with defending their opponents’ fourth-and-goal play. After this, the team was left with a group of young players, including Devan Thompkins, Jide Abasiri, and Kobe Pepe. The main reason why USC fell is their inexperienced team and crucial players’ absences because of injuries.