Despite 7-6 record, unfazed Lincoln Riley details promising Big Ten experience after conference realignment

Coming off a 7-6 campaign in USC’s first year in the Big Ten, head coach Lincoln Riley remains confident in the direction of the program and unfazed by the transition to the new conference.

Speaking Thursday on ESPN College Football, Riley reflected on the challenges and depth of the Big Ten, saying that the realignment has created a different kind of grind.

“There’s so many teams in our league that obviously we don't play everybody,” Riley said. “It's going to take a couple years to cycle through actually playing. I think, is a little bit unique." (Timestamp: 5:17)

“But now you're getting these conferences that are getting so big, and that's a lot different than obviously, when you played,” he added.

While USC’s record wasn’t what fans hoped for, Riley stressed how close the Trojans were in many games:

“I think we all kind of expected that, it's going to be a good League, it's going to be a tough league,” he said. “I don't know that there was anything really out of the ordinary, other than, I mean, we played in just an amazing number of one score and kind of down to the last play of the game. Games probably, coach 50 years and not have another season that kind of winds up like that.”

Riley is heading into his fourth year at USC. After an 11-3 start and a near playoff run in Year 1, the Trojans have since turned into one of the sport’s biggest letdowns.

Lincoln Riley’s USC wants out of its rivalry with Notre Dame

Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley - Source: Imagn

According to reports, Lincoln Riley is pushing to end the annual matchup as the Trojans join the Big Ten and adjust to a nine-game conference schedule.

On the Always College Football podcast, Riley said it’s part of the sport’s evolution. He called the series a “regional game” when it began and said while some traditional matchups still matter, moving to the Big Ten changes things.

"It really doesn't [concern me]," Riley said. "If you love college football, then are you going to scroll on your TV past USC-Ohio State? No, no, you're not.”

Former ESPN analyst David Pollack said on his show See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack, on Wednesady, that college football keeps losing rivalries like this because they "don’t make sense" anymore.

At USC, Riley is 26-14 and 0-2 against Notre Dame, with both losses described as coaching mismatches.