USC and head coach Lincoln Riley found themselves staring at a bitter end to their season following a 38-20 loss to UCLA, the Trojans‘ fifth loss in their final six regular-season games.
As UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond and Bruins players dragged the Victory Bell through the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tunnel following a dominant 38-20 victory over their crosstown rivals Saturday, USC and head coach Lincoln Riley found themselves staring at a bitter end to their disappointing season.
The Trojans losing five of their final six regular-season games would have appeared unfathomable when they began the season as the sixth-ranked team in the country. But as they searched for answers following a 7-5 campaign, there was plenty of blame to go around.
„I’ve clearly not done a good enough job in the second half of the season to get this team ready,“ Riley said. „I’ve got to do a much better job.“
In the finale, USC’s performance was emblematic of its season-long struggles. With little on the line except the pride of beating their rivals, the Trojans once again displayed poor defensive play, sloppy mistakes and an inconsistent offense that couldn’t be saved even by reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams.
„We just didn’t execute,“ wide receiver Tahj Washington said. „We’re just leaving a lot out there.
