Lincoln Riley could never solve Gary Patterson -- now he needs him to help save USC — SkimNews
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- Lincoln Riley hired Gary Patterson in January after a two-year courtship that ended over a round of golf at Pebble Beach, tasking the Hall of Fame coach with reversing a USC defense that has ranked 117th nationally since Riley's 2022 arrival.
- USC's roster returns 15 starters — the most in the country — including nine on an offense ranked eighth nationally last season, with quarterback Jayden Maiava forgoing the NFL Draft to lead the Big Ten's top passing attack for one more year.
- USC's defensive dichotomy since Riley arrived is the harshest in the sport: the Trojans lead the nation in offensive yards per play while ranking 117th on defense, with coordinators Alex Grinch (fired) and D'Anton Lynn (departed for Penn State) both unable to close the gap.
- Gary Patterson brings his signature 4-2-5 scheme — built on speed, an extra defensive back, and simplified assignments — that produced five No. 1 defensive finishes at TCU, though he has not coached a game since leaving after the 2021 season.
- USC's defensive front includes Freshman All-American Jahkeem Stewart (7.5 TFLs as a true freshman despite a stress fracture), edge rusher Kameryn Crawford (10.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks), Braylan Shelby (4.5 sacks), and incoming five-star freshmen Luke Wafle and Jaimeon Winfield.
- Riley's record at Oklahoma was 55-10 with four Big 12 titles and three College Football Playoff appearances; at USC, he is 35-18 with zero titles, making Patterson's arrival the hinge on which his Trojans tenure will be judged.
Why it matters: USC has the deepest roster Riley has assembled — 15 returning starters, the country's top signing class, a $200 million facility, and a quarterback who turned down the NFL — but none of it matters unless Patterson's 4-2-5 scheme fixes the 117th-ranked defense that has kept the program from catching Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State in the Big Ten.
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