It’s no secret USC football coach Lincoln Riley has received criticism for the Trojans’ performance during his tenure, or that he’s among coaches facing the most pressure this season.
But USC’s issue might be more than Riley’s coaching.
CBS Sports’ David Cobb listed the Trojans sixth among the Top 10 most overrated college football teams over the last decade.
“USC started 11-1 in 2022 before getting stuffed in a locker by Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game and missing out on the CFP. The Trojans are just 15-12 since that loss, and Lincoln Riley needs a big 2025 to reclaim the excitement which accompanied his arrival from Oklahoma,” Cobb wrote. “Prior to Riley, Clay Helton posted a 46-24 record -- which doesn't seem so bad in retrospect -- but never made the CFP while competing in a mediocre Pac-12. Realignment might be good for USC's pocketbook, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that living up to the program's historical standards will be a challenge in the Big Ten.”
This season, Riley must help the Trojans navigate a difficult schedule, packed with travel and four opponents ranked in the AP Preseason Poll.
USC has a tough three-game stretch beginning in Week 5, with games against No. 12 Illinois, No. 13 Michigan and No. 6 Notre Dame back-to-back-to-back. They’ll also face No. 7 Oregon in Week 11. The Trojans will travel for three of these matchups, hosting only the Wolverines.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
The Big 12 is the only Power-4 Conference with no schools on Cobb’s list. The SEC has the most overrated teams with five: No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 3 Auburn, No. 5 Florida, No. 9 Texas and No. 10 Tennessee. The ACC saw three teams named to the list: No. 4 Florida State, No. 7 North Carolina and No. 8 Miami.
The Trojans were one of two Big Ten Conference programs to make Cobb’s Top 10, but fared better than Nebraska — Cobb ranked the Cornhuskers as second-most overrated. USC is scheduled to face Nebraska in Lincoln Week 8, following their three weeks of games against ranked opponents.