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Covering one team and one school, as we do here at Trojans Wire, involves a delicate balance. It's important to tell it like it is -- no sunshine pumping, no pulled punches -- but it's also important to give credit in the midst of a tense or complicated situation when credit is earned. The balance of honest skepticism and honest praise is often tricky, and right now at USC is one of those times as we try to tell you the real story about Lincoln Riley.

We are still very skeptical about Oregon

We're going to get to the positive spin in a moment, but first, let's not escape from the challenge in front of Lincoln Riley and USC: Oregon. Is this team ready to win in Eugene? We're all about to find out, but right now, I'm still not trusting this team in a big road game. It's the ultimate hurdle Lincoln Riley has not been able to surmount. USC cannot play bad first quarters and first halves and win on the road against good teams. For 2025, I'm still not sold on the Trojans ... but you probably don't want to dwell too much on that point. Moreover, Saturday will give us the verdict on this team and season, and we will have a whole week to discuss the Ducks.

This was about 2026 more than 2025 for Lincoln Riley

Unless this season was a total disaster -- 7-5 or 6-6 -- we all knew Lincoln Riley was going to come back in 2026 and coach USC for another season. The discomfort I personally felt (shared by a lot of USC fans) was rooted in the idea that Riley was not creating real reason for optimism going into next year. This Iowa win is the first time in a very long time that I felt Lincoln Riley can really get it done at USC. I was skeptical about 2026 the whole season ... until Saturday. Why? That's what I'm going to unpack as I go along:

Real response, real comeback

Against Nebraska, let's be honest: Dylan Raiola getting hurt was a huge break for the Trojans, who were outplayed in the first half and were able to win primarily because Nebraska could not throw the ball in the second half. That was a second-half comeback, but altered by a significant turn of events beyond USC's control.

This game against Iowa was a true comeback. No asterisks, no doubt, no nonsense. That was a championship-level response against an opponent known for playing really good defense, especially against the pass. USC went into the teeth of the Iowa defense and conquered it with Makai Lemon being an absolute baller. The defense, missing Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald, shut out Iowa. Guys really dug deep at a level I have not seen at USC since the 2022 team. This is what it's supposed to look like at USC. I haven't seen this kind of quality or felt this kind of culture change in three years.

The difference from the Illinois game

Without Kamari Ramsey, USC's defense was lost against Illinois. This time, USC -- sans Ramsey -- held it together. This game shows why the Illinois loss was so bad, but the Iowa comeback also shows how much the Trojans have evolved. It's a learning point -- and a source of confidence -- which can flow into the offseason and become a springboard for exponential growth and development in 2026.

D'Anton Lynn

Lynn has not been great this season -- we should all be able to admit that -- but coming up with a second-half shutout of Iowa and getting more from a defense which missed arguably its two best players in the secondary is a very impressive feat. This does feel like a turning point for Lynn and an indicator that he will regain his fastball in 2026. He talked about the youth of this 2025 defense as a reason USC hasn't made huge forward strides, but now there seems to be the appearance of genuine late-season development which bodes well for the following campaign. USC really could put all the pieces together on defense in 2026.

Jayden Maiava made big plays without big mistakes

Jayden Maiava did not throw a crushing interception or make a huge third-quarter mistake which stopped a USC comeback in its tracks. This time he was able to trust Makai Lemon without putting the ball in the wrong place. This is what it's supposed to look like, setting up a huge 2026 season.

Jayden Maiava shuts up the regression talk

It was legitimate to worry that tougher competition was causing real regression for Maiava. A performance like this against a defense like that (Iowa) changes the conversation and shows that Maiava's growth is not a mirage. Oregon will tell us more, but Iowa told us Maiava has indeed established a higher floor this season. Now he must pursue a higher ceiling in Eugene and in 2026.

Zach Hanson

The biggest reason to be optimistic about USC football going into 2026 is Zach Hanson. What a tremendous job the first-year offensive line coach continues to do. Without an injured Elijah Paige, USC's line was still able to give Jayden Maiava a clean pocket against Iowa's front four. USC has been operating without a fully healthy line for much of the year, but backups have delivered. It's a lot like the 2022 offensive line which had injuries to Justin Dedich and Andrew Voorhees for varying lengths of time but was able to work around those limitations.

Lincoln Riley's reaction to the win says it all

Lincoln Riley and the reality of USC football

Lincoln Riley is generally not a very emotive guy. The fact that he so emotionally reacted to this win is a manifestation of what we can all appreciate: He knew he was in trouble (not the hot seat, but in a position where he needed to prove something). He knew he had not been getting the best out of this program. He knew this comeback was special, and he knows he can use this as a teaching point to really get the program headed in the right direction.

USC players sensed the moment, too

2026 is more than just the elite incoming recruiting class

As Trojans Wire colleague Ethan Inman wrote in recent weeks, the 2026 recruiting class -- as good as it looks on paper -- is still comprised of freshmen, players who won't all contribute right away. Some, yes, but not all. USC needed its 2025 roster to show growth going into 2026. That's what this Iowa game was all about. USC now has credible reason to believe the veterans and the freshmen -- plus portal additions -- can make this program take off in 2026.

The hope might not last, but -- like USC against Iowa -- it made a comeback

Hope? Optimism? In this economy? At Lincoln Riley's USC? No USC football game over the past three years, with the possible exception of 2024 LSU, has inspired this much hope.

As critical as I have been of Lincoln Riley -- and I should have been -- I am more than willing to say this game eroded a significant chunk of my skepticism for 2026. I was dreading next season going into this game. I was dreading next season at halftime. I am now willing to accept and believe in the possibility that USC might be really good next year.

The pessimistic but necessary postscript

Beyond Oregon, there is still one really important point to emphasize amid the optimism created by the win over Iowa: Rob Ryan still needs a strong closing argument, especially against Oregon, to be retained for 2026. Riley can't make the same mistake he made with Alex Grinch, thinking that a flawed situation can be fixed by retaining a coach instead of getting a coaching upgrade. Rob Ryan needs to prove his guys can play a complete game against an elite opponent. If not, USC and Riley have to upgrade the linebacker coaching spot for 2026.

Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans likely had their College Football Playoff hopes come to an end Saturday with their 42-27 loss to Oregon. They are now 8-3 heading into their season finale with UCLA and with losses to Notre Dame, Illinois, and now Oregon, it looks like the Trojans can stop thinking about a spot in the playoffs.

After Saturday's loss, Riley had a heated moment during his press conference when a reporter who covers USC asked him about a sign that was shown on ESPN's College GameDay earlier in the day. The sign, which was held by an Oregon fan, read "Extend Lincoln Riley's Contract."

The reporter, Adam Bradford, asked Riley if he saw that sign and if he had any feelings about opposing fan bases not being worried about facing teams that he coaches.

Riley did not love that question. At all.

"That might be the dumbest question I've been asked, as long as I've been a head coach," he said. "You ought to feel a little embarrassed asking that question. This is a professional thing, you ought to try it."

Here's that moment:

Bradford later defended his question, writing on X:

"For those wondering, there was an Oregon sign at GameDay that said “Extend Lincoln Riley’s contract.” I asked about his thoughts on the fact that opposing fans do not view him as a threat at USC. Maybe harsh on my part, but I believe USC fans deserve answers.

A little harsh, indeed.

Riley signed a 10-year, $110 million contract with USC back in 2022. Earlier this year, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Riley's deal comes with a whopping $80 million buyout, so it's likely he's going to remain with the Trojans for a long time.

USC hasn't been to the College Football Playoff yet under Riley. The Trojans hoped he would be the guy to turn the program back into contenders after they lured him away from Oklahoma. So far that hasn't happened.

The Indianapolis Colts have been forced to face the worst-case scenario after Week 14. Quarterback Daniel Jones had gained traction earlier in the season in MVP discussions. After struggling through most of his career, Jones was on a hot streak in Indianapolis until the last few games.

Then disaster struck; Jones, who already had a fractured fibula in his left leg, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in his right. He'll be out for at least nine months, and with Anthony Richardson already on injured reserve, that leaves rookie Riley Leonard — previously QB3 — the Colts' new starting quarterback.

Yet the Colts desperately need more depth at quarterback, so they have signed Philip Rivers to the practice squad, with the 44-year-old quarterback coming out of retirement. It seems that Rivers is most likely to serve in a mentor capacity to Leonard rather than being expected to start, and in that sense, it's a perfect signing.

Philip Rivers’ return to the Colts is more than just roster depth for Riley Leonard

In April, the Colts drafted Leonard in round six, a decision which at the time was deemed risky, though it clearly paid off now. In his one season at Notre Dame, he helped bring the Fighting Irish to a national championship, and he's known to be a talented, dual-threat quarterback. Yet like many rookie QBs, he has some problems with consistency.

And who was it that helped prepare Leonard to take Notre Dame to a championship? None other than Philip Rivers himself, who lives just minutes away from Leonard's home in Alabama. Leonard practiced in Rivers' backyard before his 2024 Notre Dame season, and it clearly paid off.

Rivers was cheering Leonard on through his college career, and of course, had high praise to give after the Colts drafted him earlier this year. "(Leonard's) just a real pleasant and enjoyable guy to be around," Rivers said. "Just really humble, but really competitive and wants to just soak up all he can. You always want those young guys to be confident but also have that humility that, 'I got a long way to go.'"

He also said Leonard had a great work ethic and would be a huge help to the Colts. "The thing about Riley, he's going to do all those things right. He's going to be there early. He's going to end up being an asset to the whole quarterback room in terms of preparing the starter for the season, all while he's getting himself better. It'll be a good working environment for Riley and Shane and that offensive staff — I know a handful of those guys as well — they'll do a heck of a job."

As for Leonard, he's excited to potentially start his first NFL game, but is also ready to root for Rivers if he doesn't end up starting. “I’m only a rookie, but I’ve learned in this business, don’t have an opinion on it, just excited to be my best,” Leonard said. “He’s obviously a good friend, a mentor of mine.”

It's not the first time Leonard has spoken about the relationship he has with Rivers; before being drafted, he said the two were still in touch, and he was still practicing in Rivers' backyard, saying he was practicing not only with Rivers, but with his son, Gunner, too.

"Probably the biggest thing that I learned was just how intentional he is about every little thing. Like, if we're doing the warm-up and we're taking five-step drops, those five-step drops have to be pristine in order to be good enough for him," he said, adding, "I think the littlest details to him are the most important in the world."

It's still not clear which of the two quarterbacks will end up starting for Week 15. But while the Colts' season feels like it is falling apart, the reunion of these two could actually serve to be a source of optimism for fans.

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There aren’t too many similarities between USC head coach Lincoln Riley and the reported next coach of the UCLA Bruins, Bob Chesney. The UCLA job will be Chesney’s second FBS job after non-FBS coaching stops. Riley has never coached below the FBS level.

It's easy to forget how young Lincoln Riley still is

Despite being such a longtime fixture in college football, Riley is still just 42 years old. Chesney is only 48 himself, but it took him a while to grind his way up from being a Division III player to head coaching a Big Ten Conference team.

Riley quickly got to become an FBS coordinator

After Riley’s playing days ended at Texas Tech, he became a student assistant and graduate assistant with the Red Raiders. By 2007, Riley was Texas Tech’s wide receivers coach and in 2010 he became the East Carolina Pirates offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Oklahoma brought Riley in ahead of the 2015 season as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before taking over as head coach in 2017.

Bob Chesney lived the D-III life for quite a while

Chesney’s path looked much, much different. Chesney’s coaching career began at Division III Norwich as a graduate assistant for two seasons. He then joined Division III Delaware Valley University as their defensive coordinator in 2002. Chesney then spent two seasons at D-III King’s University in Pennsylvania.

Chesney finally becomes a head coach

The next five seasons with John Hopkins as their defensive backs coach and then as their defensive coordinator. Chesney would get his first head coaching job in 2010 with D-III Salve Regina. After three seasons with Salve Regina, Chesney got hired by D-II Assumption University in Massachusetts.

Chesney hasn't slowed down since getting to the FBS

After going 44-16 with Assumption, he was hired as the head coach for Holy Cross in the FCS. With Holy Cross, Chesney would post a record of 44-21 with four playoff appearances in five years. Then Chesney replaced Curt Cignetti at James Madison, where he’s gone 20-5 and has the Dukes in the Sun Belt Conference championship game.

Riley's offense versus Chesney's defense will be must-see

There’s not many similarities between the two coaches paths, with Riley spending time with several Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks while Chesney has slowly climbed the ranks. Riley has proven to be an elite recruiter but the UCLA job will be Chesney’s first chance to bring in elite prospects.

Riley being a great offensive mind and Chesney being a defensive-minded head coach will lead to some great USC-UCLA battles over the next few years, or as long as Riley stays with the Trojans.