Riley Wins Coach of the Week After USC Upsets Ohio State
USC coach Lincoln Riley received the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Week award on November 2 after the Trojans beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 in Los Angeles.
USC’s win over Ohio State lifted the Trojans to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, and moved them to No. 18 in the AP rankings. The victory also earned Riley the weekly coaching honor, which recognizes coaches for exceptional wins during the season.
USC took control early when freshman receiver Trent Mosley scored on a 69-yard touchdown two plays into the game. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, while the Trojans’ defense kept the Buckeyes from scoring a touchdown until the final minutes.
Riley said on November 2 that USC had put itself in position to contend, but needed to keep learning from its performances. He said the team was developing a clearer sense of what helped it play well and would build on that during the final stretch.
USC has a bye before visiting Indiana on November 14, hosting Maryland and closing the regular season against UCLA. Winning its remaining games could put the Trojans in the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff, milestones that would each be firsts for the school. The wins over Ohio State marked USC’s first victory against a top-10 opponent during Riley’s tenure, but the team still faces a difficult run-in.