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Entering his fifth year leading the USC Trojans, Lincoln Riley addressed the media in Chicago by highlighting a renewed sense of stability and momentum across the entire football program. Reflecting on the program's evolution,
Riley noted that the team has successfully navigated significant transitions, including a new coaching staff, a new university president, a new athletic director, conference realignment, and a recent move into the state-of-the-art Bloom Football Facility.
"Right now, I feel like our alignment is as strong as it's ever been," Riley stated, emphasizing that this foundational stability directly fuels success in recruiting—such as securing a top-tier recruiting class—and roster retention.
A major focal point of USC's off-season was bolstering the coaching staff, highlighted by the high-profile additions of legendary defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler.
Praising Patterson's unique genius, Riley remarked, "I've never coached against somebody that I thought was more unique and tougher to go against than Gary Patterson," noting the immense difficulty the defense has caused the offense in practice. Riley also lauded Ekeler's exceptional energy, attention to detail, and foundational teaching methods.
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Representing the Trojans on the media stage alongside Riley were starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, defensive lineman Jide Abasiri and transfer defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren.
Riley singled out Maiava's dramatic development, noting that of all the quarterbacks he has coached throughout his career, Maiava has shown perhaps the most extensive growth from day one to the present.
Addressing the program's broader goals, Riley maintained his unwavering championship standard, stating, "Every year I expect to win, I expect us to win. I expect us to compete for and win championships."
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Furthermore, looking ahead to the team's home slate, Riley emphasized the vital importance of reestablishing the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as an impenetrable, dominant home-field advantage after going undefeated there the previous season, while also expressing an ongoing desire to preserve the historic rivalry game against Notre Dame.
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