Maryland Players Twist the Knife on Lincoln Riley’s USC With Their Overzealous Act

Remember when Paul Finebaum called the USC Trojans “overrated”? Well, not long after, when Lincoln Riley’s team defeated LSU, Finebaum had to walk back his statement. But after that impressive season opener, things took a nosedive for USC. They’ve now suffered back-to-back losses, including a tough defeat against Penn State last week. That loss not only marked a low point in Lincoln Riley’s career but also raised serious questions about his coaching style and decision-making.

Now, those doubts have only grown after the Maryland Terrapins delivered another blow to the Trojans. USC (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) has now lost four games by a combined 14 points—all after leading in the fourth quarter. Fans are starting to lose patience with Riley, and it’s easy to see why after so many close losses.

On October 20, after Maryland pulled off a thrilling 29-28 win against USC, The Athletic CFB shared a video showing just how tough this loss was for the Trojans. The clip featured Maryland fans rushing the field, dancing alongside their team, and their turtle mascot, “Testudo.” The Terrapins DB La’khi Roland was also spotted showing off some moves. It also captured Riley, looking defeated, as he walked across the field while the Maryland crowd celebrated. The footage emphasized the excitement around Maryland’s last-minute block that sealed their win, calling it a “huge victory” while noting USC’s loss as “absolutely devastating.” And who could blame them? Traveling over 2,300 miles only to lose by a single point—after coming off an overtime loss the week before—was a brutal way to go down.

The footage emphasized the excitement around Maryland’s last-minute block that sealed their win, calling it a “huge victory” while noting USC’s loss as “absolutely devastating.” And who could blame them? Traveling over 2,300 miles only to lose by a single point—after coming off an overtime loss the week before—was a brutal way to go down.

Sure, losing in overtime to a strong Penn State team stings, but dropping a game to Maryland? That’s a tough pill to swallow for USC fans, especially since Maryland had already lost to teams like Michigan State, Indiana, and Northwestern. You can imagine the frustration boiling over in College Park after a night like that. USC’s poor showing against Maryland has now put Riley firmly on the “hot seat,” a situation that was brewing even before this game, with some alumni openly questioning his leadership.

Can Lincoln Riley lead the Trojans to the playoffs?

Seeing your opponents dance in celebration is bad enough, but it gets worse when former players start questioning your abilities. This rocky start to the season has cast serious doubts on USC’s playoff hopes and Riley’s future as head coach. Keyshawn Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver, didn’t hold back during a segment on All Facts, No Brakes Trojans. Reflecting on the Penn State loss, Johnson said, “The thought of the game was, you predicted them to lose, right? And we blew it and ended up losing the game. That’s what the predictions are. That’s what happened. Now it’s Lincoln Riley on the hot seat. His seat is going to be high. They are not going to make the playoffs this year.”

Now, after the Maryland loss, former USC running back LenDale White also expressed his frustration, calling for Riley to be fired, comparing the situation to Lane Kiffin’s dismissal years ago.

With a disappointing 3-4 record, the Trojans’ path to the playoffs looks shaky at best. If they hope to keep any postseason dreams alive, they’ll need to turn things around quickly and show some major progress in the coming weeks. Otherwise, their season—and perhaps Riley’s tenure—could come to an early end.

So, what do you think? Can USC pull it together and make a run, or are their playoff hopes already slipping away?