A few years ago, if you had told USC fans that Lincoln Riley would be literally fighting for his reputation in 2025, they’d have laughed you out of the room. The dude was supposed to be the golden boy, the mastermind who would take the Trojans back to the promised land. Instead? It’s been a whole lot of Ls, blown expectations, and some very uncomfortable questions about whether Riley is actually built for the grind of the Big Ten. But just when the walls seem to be closing in, a familiar face steps up in his corner—Caleb Williams, the guy who once made Coach Riley look like a genius.
On March 29, with spring practice in full swing, Williams popped up in Cali to check on his old coach. Not just that—he took it to Instagram, dropping a story of him and Riley watching practice, captioning it, “My Guy ” and throwing some “Legends” love at the coach. Riley? Reposted it, of course, because when your ex-Heisman QB calls you a legend, you don’t leave him on read. This wasn’t just some casual drop-in. This was a statement. Williams, the guy who won Riley a Heisman, still has his back. And in a season where the heat is cranking up in LA, Riley could use all the backup he can get.
It wasn’t supposed to go like this. Riley arrived in Los Angeles as the architect of an offensive juggernaut, fresh off a 55-10 run at Oklahoma. He snagged Williams from the transfer portal, turned USC into an instant contender, and had fans dreaming of national championships. Year one? Smooth sailing—11 wins, a Pac-12 title game berth, and a Heisman for Williams. But 2023 and 2024? Not so much. The Trojans’ defense got cooked every week, Riley cycled through defensive coordinators like they were seasonal interns, and USC limped to a 7-6 finish last season. Now, with Williams low-key balling in NFL, the Trojans literally in desperate need of an identity—and a quarterback who won’t have fans wishing for a time machine back to 2022.
Despite all the struggles, Riley and Williams’ bond remains unshaken. Their journey together began in Oklahoma in 2021 when Williams, a five-star recruit, took over as the Sooners’ starter and instantly flashed superstar potential. When Riley made his shocking move to USC, Williams followed, turning the Trojans into must-watch TV. In their first season together in 2022, Williams put up video game numbers—4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, and just five picks—and USC looked like a national powerhouse in the making. Then, reality hit…
The defense never got right, and by 2023, the Trojans were getting bullied by physical teams, exposing Riley’s system as a flashy-but-flimsy operation. Caleb Williams still did his thing, throwing for 3,633 yards, 30 TDs, and just five INTs, but it wasn’t enough to cover up USC’s glaring flaws. He sat out the bowl game, entered the NFL Draft, and left Riley to pick up the pieces.
Now, as Riley tries to salvage his reputation in 2025, Williams is still in his corner. Whether that means anything on the field remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Riley is out of excuses. With USC stepping into the Big Ten, the days of running up the score on weak Pac-12 defenses are over. If he wants to survive, he’s going to have to build a team that can go toe-to-toe with the big dogs.
Lincoln Riley’s USC QB dilemma heading into 2025 season
Spring ball just kicked off in Los Angeles, and Lincoln Riley is officially in make-or-break mode. There’s no Caleb Williams to bail him out anymore. No Jordan Addison or Drake London to make circus catches. Just Riley, a 14-11 record over the past two seasons, and a USC fan base that’s running out of patience. Oh, and a quarterback room that might be the most unpredictable in college football.
Miller Moss, the guy who started most of 2024, dipped for Louisville. That leaves three names in the mix: Jayden Maiava, Sam Huard, and Husan Longstreet. Maiava, who transferred in last season, showed flashes of potential but also turned the ball over way too much. Huard, a former top recruit, is now on his third school, hoping to finally live up to the hype. And Longstreet? A five-star freshman who might just be the future but is raw as hell. Riley has a choice: bet on experience with Maiava or Huard, or roll the dice on Longstreet and hope he can catch up fast.
No matter who wins the job, the mission is clear—USC needs to win. Riley overhauled his staff, bringing in defensive guru Rob Ryan and making big recruiting moves. Including snagging Notre Dame’s top personnel guy, Chad Bowden. The Trojans currently hold the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, but that won’t mean jack if they flop again in 2025. If USC stumbles early, the whispers about Riley being another failed Hollywood project will turn into full-blown headlines.
The schedule ain’t doing Riley any favors, either. The Trojans kick off the season with a brutal stretch, including a trip to Michigan and home games against Penn State and Washington. Big Ten football is a different beast—more smash-mouth, less track meet. Riley’s scheme has always thrived on elite quarterback play, but the days of coasting on high-flying offenses are done. USC has to get tougher, smarter, and more balanced.
So here we are. Lincoln Riley, once the golden boy of college football, is staring down his biggest test yet. Can he adapt? Can he build a team that can win in the trenches? Or will USC fans be looking at another seven-win season, wondering if they got finessed by a guy who never had to build a team from the ground up?
Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure—this ain’t Norman anymore. The Big Ten doesn’t care about your past Heismans or your offensive genius. Either you win or you get left behind. Right now, Riley is standing at the crossroads. Caleb Williams might have his back. But come fall, it’ll be up to Riley and his new QB to prove the doubters wrong or right.
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