Despite battling a flu outbreak that sidelined over 27 players, USC’s Trojans pulled off a thrilling 19-13 victory against their rivals, UCLA. It was a thrilling game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final two minutes. Lincoln Riley’s decision to let Jayden Maiava start went in his favour as he showcased an impressive performance and helped the team register their sixth victory of the season. But is he still missing something crucial? USC Trojans former quarterback Matt Barkley appreciated the Trojans’ recent victory and praised the addition of Maiava, but that’s not it; he raised some concerns that might help Riley moving forward. 

On November 25, he appeared on Until Saturday, The Atheltic’s college football podcast, and highlighted the urgency and pressure surrounding USC’s football program as they navigate a challenging season in a very light way. “I think the one thing is just you got to win, and yeah, as Al Davis said, just win baby win, and that’s kind of the sentiment right now. You know, they made a quarterback change this last week, going from Miller Moss to Jayden Maiava, and I think that was a good move. Honestly, as hard of a decision as that was, I think Jayden’s got a really bright future, but overall, I think the school spirit and the hype of the program are there. They just need to close some of those close ones.”

No doubt Maiava displayed some impressive plays on Saturday by passing for 221 yards, which included a 4-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. But can he finish games for the Trojans moving ahead? Barkley is trying to highlight the same. If we take a closer look at their recent losses, they have often been by narrow margins. 

They suffered a narrow defeat to Minnesota 24-17. The game against Penn State was played over time, but they were still handed over a 33-30 defeat, and it continued against Maryland, and guess what? They lost to them by 1 point, 28-29. No,w that’s a big issue Riley and his team need to address. Till then, let’s see what Riley thinks of their recent victory.  

‘These wins are special’: Lincoln Riley

Well, this season has been a roller coaster ride for Lincoln Riley and his squad. The first half of the season was a real test, and after struggling with narrow defeats, they tried to bounce back and continue their momentum after winning against Rutger, but Washington had some other plans. However, Riley is trying his best to finish the season in a positive way. This Saturday, they overcame some struggles in the first half to beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

Now, that is a special victory because most of the players were not well, but they still went through a tough time together and secured a spot in a bowl game. The head coach is proud of his team as he highlights the squad’s determination despite facing challenges. 

“These wins are special,” he said. “We know how much it means to this city, how much it means to this university.” Although the flu outbreak was serious, it was still an interesting week for the Trojans. “It’s confirmation of the things that you do. And for us to win this one, especially in this fashion, playing as well defensively as we did, overcoming all that we did this week. You could write a book about this week alone. We just had a no excuses attitude.”

His statements tell a lot about the positive attitude of the team as they move forward. Even though he is aware of the competition and knows that next week’s game is important, Notre Dame is not going to hand over the victory easily.