Lincoln Riley has showdown with Ohio State AD, reads prepared statement to media after huge win at USC

What a crazy week this has been for the USC Trojans.

Last Saturday, it seemed like the Lincoln Riley era in Los Angeles was coming to an end. SC entered Madison as a heavy favorite over the Wisconsin Badgers and laid what can only be described as, charitably, an egg. For the first time in his coaching career, a Lincoln Riley team scored just seven points in a game.

There were some mind-blowing coaching errors, including attempting a 58-yard field goal into the wind. Predictably, it didn’t work, setting up Wisconsin with outstanding field position and score. The Trojans looked ill-prepared and poorly coached, with senior quarterback Jayden Maiava taking several atrocious intentional ground penalties and throwing two picks, a muffled catch on a Badgers kickoff leading to a missed opportunity before halftime, not calling a timeout when the SC defense was misaligned on a fourth-and-2 pivot, leading to a Wisconsin touchdown, and an incredible -17 net rushing yards.

AFTER YET ANOTHER INEXCUSABLE LOSS TO WISCONSIN, THE LINCOLN RILEY ERA AT USC SEEMS NEAR ITS END

Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans argues for a call in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 24, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)

After the match, speculation and discussions were immediate. Riley was mentally examined in Los Angeles, it was a common feeling. The USC athletic department had already begun raising money to potentially clear Riley’s $70 million buyout. And fans and analysts were making wish lists of potential new coaches for 2027 and beyond.

Then Saturday came. USC hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes, still heavily favored despite backup quarterback Luke Fahey. OSU boasts a top-three defense, arguably the nation’s best player in Jeremiah Smith, and a wealth of big-game experience under head coach Ryan Day. And of course, the Trojans dominated.

Even in a college football season where parity has been more evident than ever, this was a shocking upset. Ohio State dominated time of possession and piled up the field with some unnecessary runs, but never really seemed to have much of a chance. When set up with a first-and-goal inside the one-yard line, the Buckeyes still couldn’t get into the end zone.

USC, which has been unimpressive for most of the season, looked like a totally different team. Freshman Trent Mosley completed a screen pass on the second play of the game for a long touchdown. Mark Bowman provided the highlight of the year at tight end, hurdling an Ohio State defender and making tackles on a huge catch and run. And the Trojans’ much-maligned defense grabbed a timely turnover, forced a fumble that inexplicably went unexplained and got stop after stop when it needed it.

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Needless to say, a win against the number two team in the country was a season, and potentially a program, game-changing turn of events. And Riley had an interesting time after the conclusion, including an altercation with Ohio State’s athletic director and an unusual prepared statement he read during the postgame media availability.

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Buckeyes staff and players were leaving the Coliseum field in the tunnel, and Riley tried to walk to the same area with his family and security guard. But an OSU staff member held him back and after a few seconds, athletic director Ross Bjork can be seen gesturing toward Riley and saying something to him. Either way, Riley wasn’t happy about it, clearly repeating some very rude phrases as he was finally let through.

Another angle more clearly showed Björk saying something indiscernible as he left the field.

Confrontations arise, especially after a heated match between two proud programs. Things got even more unusual at the press conference.

LINCOLN RILEY RESPONDS TO SPECULATION ABOUT HIS FUTURE AT USC AHEAD OF HUGE GAME AGAINST OHIO STATE

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork yells at USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley after the NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Riley, who previously addressed speculation about his commitment to USC during a midweek press conference, saying Los Angeles is where he wants to be, read a prepared statement about his job and the Trojans’ program. This time, clearly with a little more festive language, let’s say, towards the media.

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“This program is built on inner joy and not outer applause,” he said. “This win is for all the staff, the players, the management, the administration, everyone inside the walls. I said before this game that I was the right person for this job, and as long as all these people know that, that’s all that matters to me. I appreciate being a part of this university, and everything it does. I appreciate our kids and our staff, and I’m going to keep fighting because that’s what being a Trojan is all about. Adios.”

Not exactly what you’d expect from a head coach coming off a huge win against the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, but it’s hard to fault him for being a little more defensive than usual.

Riley has faced a long list of questions about his professional status in recent weeks, but again, these questions are legitimate. USC’s two losses this year were inexcusable. The Oregon Ducks are far from the most anticipated team in the preseason, and the Trojans’ defense let backup Dylan Raiola walk all over them in a 41-27 loss. This Wisconsin performance has been abysmal and looks even worse with the Badgers’ 30-0 loss to Iowa on Saturday.

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There have been few marquee wins in the Riley era, until this one, and after an offseason marketing campaign revolving around the now-open “championship window,” sitting at 6-2 with their season on the brink just isn’t enough. But he deserves credit for OSU’s win and the way it played out. USC looked like a different team; prepared, focused, intense and aggressive. Why don’t they always look like this? Nobody knows.

Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

There are, however, more questions to ask, because there always are. How have the Trojans and Riley responded in the last three games? The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a trip to play the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington next week and a date with the now No. 1.5 UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl to close out the season.

Win and the Trojans would almost certainly make the College Football Playoff, with one of the best resumes in the country with three wins against top 5 teams. Lose two of the last three to Indiana and UCLA and finish 8-4? We could talk again about the Riley buyout and that vacancy at Baylor.