The Michigan Wolverines started their season on a good note beating Fresno State 30-10 before 110,665 at the Michigan Stadium. However, their encounter the following week was not as good for them as they were defeated 31-12 by Second placed Texas, before a capacity 111,170 audience. HC Lincoln Riley sure isn’t one to sit on his accomplishments despite being 2–0 this season. The bye week could not have come at a better time as far as USC is concerned. 

In his recent interview with the All Facts No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson YouTube podcast, presented by former NFL wide receiver and USC football player, Keyshawn Johnson, Riley discussed the future of the USC football team. The season is not for the faint-hearted, especially when one’s team has become accustomed to winning, and following a bye week, before a mammoth clash with Michigan, Riley did not conceal the difficulties.

Riley pointed out that the first two games showed what aspects of the team need to be worked on, no matter the opponent. However, he was honest during the podcast and said, “We’ve got a laundry list of things we need to get better at,”. The Trojans are chocking extra time for practice towards the Big Ten opener against the Wolverines, one of the most illustrious programs in CFB.

Playing against the Wolverines at their home field is a very big challenge and this fact is well understood by Riley. He commended the Wolverines for their recent victories noting, “It’s a tremendous football team… they’ve had a great run here the last several years.” The Wolverines are a formidable side, especially when playing at home.

The importance of the bye week and getting ready for the big test

With USC enjoying a bye week, head coach Lincoln Riley isn’t taking it easy—he’s using the time to sharpen his team’s focus for their upcoming clash with Michigan. While the Trojans got a chance to showcase some of their younger talent during their recent win over Utah State, Riley knows there’s still plenty of work to be done. He’s made it clear that, despite the win, there’s room for improvement on both sides of the ball.

Riley has been relentless in addressing the team’s mistakes, pushing for a higher level of technical execution on offense and defense. “We’ve got things we need to be better at,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of using this break to lock in the right mentality. The bye week is less about rest and more about preparation for the massive challenge that awaits them in Ann Arbor.

Facing Michigan at the Big House is no easy feat, and Riley isn’t sugarcoating the challenge. But he’s confident that if the Trojans can squeeze in a few extra hours of practice, they’ll be ready to face one of college football’s most daunting environments. “It’s going to be a great venue, a tough road test, but that’s what great programs live for,” Riley stated, rallying his team for what could be a defining game of the season.

With star talents like Miller Moss leading the charge and USC legend Keyshawn Johnson hyping them up, the Trojans are ready to make a statement in Michigan. They’ve got the talent, the preparation, and the mentality—now it’s time to see if they can deliver when it counts.