Matt Leinart Supports Lincoln Riley Amid USC’s Struggles
Despite the USC Trojans’ recent struggles, former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart remains optimistic about the team and its head coach, Lincoln Riley. Leinart, who played at USC from 2002 to 2005, encourages fans to maintain their patience as the Trojans navigate a challenging season.
In a post on X, Leinart acknowledged the frustrations surrounding the team’s current 3-4 record but emphasized that improvement takes time. He reminded fans that this is Riley’s third year at the helm and the first in the Big Ten, urging them to trust in the coaching staff’s ability to turn things around. “As frustrated as everyone is with USC, it is a process,” he wrote. “Let’s try and have patience and trust that Lincoln and this staff will figure this out. Fight On!”
USC began the season on a positive note, defeating LSU 27-20 and dominating Utah State with a 48-0 victory. However, their performance took a downturn once they entered the Big Ten conference schedule. The Trojans suffered a loss against a rebuilding Michigan team and, despite a win over Wisconsin, have since lost three consecutive games to Minnesota, Penn State, and Maryland. A significant issue during this losing streak has been their inability to maintain leads in the second half, highlighting a troubling trend in their performance.
Additionally, USC has struggled on the road in conference play, losing all three of its away games so far this season. As the first Pac-12 team to transition to the Big Ten, USC made the move with hopes of financial gains and competitive advantage. However, the challenges of travel and competition in a new conference appear to have complicated their efforts, leading to questions about the effectiveness of their strategy.
Since starting his tenure at USC with an impressive 11-3 record, Riley’s performance has dipped, with a current record of 11-9. This drop is not what fans expect from a program with such a storied history. Leinart’s message serves as a reminder that rebuilding takes time, and he believes in the potential for the Trojans to regain their competitive edge under Riley’s guidance.
