USC's loss at Wisconsin has deepened doubts about the future of Lincoln Riley's tenure in Los Angeles. A season that began with high expectations, a top-ranked recruiting class and a path to the College Football Playoff has instead exposed familiar weaknesses: an inconsistent offense, a defense that has struggled to close out games and questionable decisions in critical moments.
The defeat came shortly after the Trojans appeared to be building momentum. USC entered the matchup at 5-1 after a 31-23 win at Penn State, and the schedule had opened opportunities for a playoff push. Starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, entering his second full season as the starter, was expected to lead an offense bolstered by a strong group of newcomers. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, who brought a history of getting strong performances from TCU's talent, was also expected to stabilize a unit that had struggled in recent seasons.
Instead, the Trojans' performance at Wisconsin unraveled early. The offensive line, expected to be a strength, was overmatched by a Wisconsin defense that had allowed 41 points to Notre Dame. Maiava threw two interceptions, one of which came on a deflected pass, and was penalized for multiple intentional grounding calls, including one that led to a long field goal attempt that was blocked. USC's running game produced minus-17 total yards, with Maiava accounting for minus-57 rushing yards. The receiving corps also had several drops.
A key sequence late in the second quarter illustrated the problems. Wisconsin scored a touchdown on a nearly eight-minute drive and kicked to USC with 1:51 remaining, with the Trojans holding all three timeouts. Boobie Feaster muffed the kickoff at the goal line, and USC began its possession at its own 7-yard line. The drive ended at the Wisconsin 8-yard line at halftime without points.
Riley's decisions in the second half drew the sharpest criticism. Early in the third quarter, Wisconsin reached the USC 16-yard line and faced fourth-and-2 in an unusual formation with four receivers bunched toward the sideline. USC was not aligned properly, with two defensive backs covering four receivers, and Riley did not call a timeout. The play resulted in a Wisconsin touchdown that extended the lead to 17-7.
USC's next possession also stalled. The Trojans moved to the Wisconsin 33-yard line before a sack pushed them to third-and-20. After an eight-yard gain, a substitution-based delay of game penalty created fourth-and-17 from the Wisconsin 41-yard line. Rather than punt or attempt a short pass for a possible first down, Riley opted for a 59-yard field goal attempt, which fell about 10 yards short. Wisconsin drove for the decisive touchdown on its next possession, handing USC its second loss of the season.
The defeat was not solely attributable to the coaching staff. Maiava appeared hurried and frequently made poor decisions, and the offensive line gave up repeated pressure while struggling in the run game. Still, Wisconsin averaged just 3.5 yards per play and totaled only 200 yards of offense, including 58 passing yards, yet USC allowed three touchdown drives. The seven points scored by USC were the fewest by any team coached by Riley, which critics have noted as part of a pattern across his tenure.
The loss raises questions about the program's direction in Riley's fifth season. Comparisons were drawn to Indiana, which beat Michigan 13-6 because its defense produced stops when needed, a dynamic the report argues has rarely been present in Riley-coached USC teams. With the Trojans' playoff hopes now significantly diminished and a home game against Ohio State looming, the team faces pressure to reverse course quickly.