It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Riley County Historical Museum in Riley, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Riley, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Riley Park Splash Pad in Riley, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Eddie Merlot's or visit Goodnow House State Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Riley, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Riley, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Riley, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
To say that expectations were high at USC heading into the 2026 college football season would be an understatement.The Trojans, especially head coach Lincoln Riley, were adamant that this year would be different than the recent disappointments. SC finished 9-3 in 2025, brought in the number one recruiting class in the country, added some talent at key positions in the transfer portal, and returned starting quarterback Jayden Maiava after a strong 2025. They hired former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to run the defense. In theory, the ...
To say that expectations were high at USC heading into the 2026 college football season would be an understatement.
The Trojans, especially head coach Lincoln Riley, were adamant that this year would be different than the recent disappointments. SC finished 9-3 in 2025, brought in the number one recruiting class in the country, added some talent at key positions in the transfer portal, and returned starting quarterback Jayden Maiava after a strong 2025. They hired former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to run the defense. In theory, the elements had finally come together to return the program to prominence. And they said as much.
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"The time is now," the marketing campaign went. Riley gave interviews in the spring, including one to On3, where he said the administration got "serious" about competing at the highest levels of college football.
(Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News)
"USC had to get really serious about being great in the sport again," he explained. " I give the school administration — everybody — credit. They have.
"Taking this over, you knew you had to go fight like hell just to try to get this window opened," . "And we’re at a point right now where there’s a lot to be excited about and a lot in front of us. It’s been a lot of work for a lot of people, a lot of commitment from a lot of people to get there, and it should be a lot of fun these next few years."
"We came here to win championships," he continued. " A lot of us have been fortunate enough to be a part of a lot of championships. We certainly didn’t come here for anything less. We’ve got to go buckle down and improve and really come together, but there’s the makings of a championship-level football team in that building right now."
Fast-forward to late-October, and they're anything but. After an inexcusable loss to Wisconsin this past weekend, USC is now 6-2 and unranked in the AP Poll. While they had a nice win over Penn State in a hostile "White Out" environment in Happy Valley, the Trojans lost at home to a very mediocre Oregon Ducks team playing a backup quarterback.
The seven points they scored against the Badgers on the road, after a bye week no less, represented the lowest point total of any Lincoln Riley-coached team. With a senior quarterback in his third season in the program and a very highly-paid offensive line. Naturally, the defense wasn't good enough to keep the game close. It never is.
The performance, the record, the mediocrity, the consistent underachievement ... all of it has led to rampant, and growingly serious, speculation that Riley's job is contingent on a strong finish to the season. Perfect timing to host Ohio State and go on the road to face Indiana.
(Icon Sportswire)
Part of the speculation is the assumption, or the observation, that Riley doesn't seem fully connected to the USC program. That he's ready to move on as much as the SC fanbase is ready to move on from him.
He addressed those questions and opinions at a news conference this week, saying that he's fully committed to staying in LA and that SC is where he belongs.
"Listen, if I didn't want to be at this place, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. I've had plenty of opportunities to leave," Riley explained Tuesday afternoon. "This is where I want to be. This is the right place for me. I'm the right person to be here. And that's as honest and transparent as I can be with you guys.
"I love it here. I mean like I told you guys a lot of times — there's not many people in college football history that gave up what I gave up to come here," Riley said. "I don't care if it's 15 years down the line, that never should be taken lightly. It's certainly not taken lightly by me. I came here because I believe in this place and none of that has changed whatsoever."
That's an interesting way to put it, because it's not exactly clear what Riley "gave up" to come to SC. He got a huge raise in salary. He locked in a massive buyout, ensuring generational wealth no matter how well he coached. He went from living in Norman, Oklahoma, to a palatial $35 million mansion on top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, acquired for him by USC. What was the big sacrifice he made? Theoretically losing favor with Oklahoma fans, but uh, you know, $100+ million can make up for some mean comments by anonymous message board accounts.
Riley said that he has a great relationship with USC's Athletic Director Jen Cohen, and said she's been a "huge part of the progress that we've made."
Though again, it's not clear what progress he's referring to. USC went 11-1 in the regular season in his first year in LA, thanks in large part to Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. They haven't won 10 games since, and have to win while playing three top-10 teams to do so in 2026.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
As for his demeanor, which can sometimes give off the impression he doesn't care, Riley addressed that too.
"When you're a head coach of a blue-blood school, you have to be ready to weather the storms, the overly positive or the overly negative," he said. "Typically, what I've learned from doing this for a few years, I haven't learned it all, but the truth typically lies somewhere in the middle. And that's typically where it's at even if you know that it's going to sensationalize. And so my job is to stay steady."
Well, that's all true. And all well and good. But when your team comes out lifeless for road game after road game, loses games it should win to programs like Minnesota, Maryland and Wisconsin, and struggles against Oregon or Notre Dame, it's reasonable to question. Watching what Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana, or even Bob Chesney in his first year at UCLA, it's easy to see why there's such disappointment in Riley's work at SC. There's little toughness, discipline, or consistency on the roster. And always another special teams mistake.
Riley might be committed to USC, but that's a two-way street. And Saturday's game, Ohio State playing with potentially a true freshman backup quarterback on the road, might be enough to end the Trojans' commitment to him. Baylor anyone?
The college football coaching carousel is gaining steam, with jobs now open in the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.Meanwhile, Lincoln Riley is absorbing some heat at Southern Cal after his Trojans got trounced by Wisconsin. If Riley wants out of USC, there's a job open in his home state of Texas. Just saying.Yes, we're talking about Baylor's opening.The NC State job also could see a big name attached to it, after the Wolfpack fired veteran coach Dave Doeren.Inside Maryland's coaching search: Big names, bi...
The college football coaching carousel is gaining steam, with jobs now open in the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Riley is absorbing some heat at Southern Cal after his Trojans got trounced by Wisconsin. If Riley wants out of USC, there's a job open in his home state of Texas. Just saying.
Yes, we're talking about Baylor's opening.
The NC State job also could see a big name attached to it, after the Wolfpack fired veteran coach Dave Doeren.
Inside Maryland's coaching search: Big names, big doubts, and a dose of reality
On this edition of "College Football Unfiltered," a USA TODAY Sports podcast presented by Sports Seriously, host Blake Toppmeyer and his colleagues Paul Myerberg and John Brice weigh in on the college football chaos and recap the drama of Week 8. That includes a discussion on: How much do we trust Texas and Arch Manning after Longhorns took down Mississippi?
Maybe the better question is, do we trust anyone? Brice says he trusts two teams, while Myerberg and Toppmeyer say that might be at least one team too many.
But, on the subject of Baylor and Riley ...
Brice says: Love it. He should go coach where he'd be happy. He's not happy where he's at. Maybe, he'd be happy back in Texas at a Big 12 job.
Myerberg says: Like it. You can go home, occasionally.
Toppmeyer says: Love it. Stay one step ahead of the firing posse at USC. Restart the clock at Baylor.
Brice says: No thanks. The Big 12 still is largely defined by offense. And right now, Clemson is defined by its complete lack of offense.
Myerberg says: No thanks. Why would Baylor think Dabo is going to reinvent his approach at Baylor, when he hasn't done that at Clemson? Plus, I'm not hiring someone who's not from Texas for the Baylor job.
Toppmeyer: No thanks. Swinney is a legend, but he's a legend of a bygone era.
As for NC State, famed alumnus Philip Rivers is coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.
So ...
Brice says: No thanks. I would contend Philip Rivers at NC State would have made more sense before NIL and transfer free agency than it would right now. Back then, it was more about establishing and developing a program. Now, it matters what type of transfer talent you can bring with you. Who would Rivers bring with him other than his son, Gunner, an NC State quarterback commit?
Myerberg: Love it. This hire would be unlike anything I can remember at the Power Four level. Just call your famous quarterback alumnus and give him the job? That's thinking outside of the box, anyway. He'd need to surround himself with a good coaching staff.
Toppmeyer: No thanks. Perhaps it shouldn't be relevant, but I can't unsee Trent Dilfer being terrible as UAB's coach. That sours me on the idea of an ex-NFL QB going from coaching high school to coaching FBS.
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' ", hosted by columnist . You can stream episodes on or download via , or . Cohosts , and cover college football for USA TODAY Sports.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:
“It’s an unhappy marriage,” is how one individual with direct ties to the USC football program described the Lincoln Riley-USC relationship in the aftermath of the Trojans’ uninspiring, undisciplined beatdown at the hands of then-unranked Wisconsin.Another individual with direct insight into the program offered an even more ominous assessment:“Let him lose to Ohio State, without a quarterback, and things are really going to get uncomfortable,” the person told USA TODAY Sports. ...
“It’s an unhappy marriage,” is how one individual with direct ties to the USC football program described the Lincoln Riley-USC relationship in the aftermath of the Trojans’ uninspiring, undisciplined beatdown at the hands of then-unranked Wisconsin.
Another individual with direct insight into the program offered an even more ominous assessment:
“Let him lose to Ohio State, without a quarterback, and things are really going to get uncomfortable,” the person told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s already clear this isn’t a fit for either side.
“And both sides know it.”
Lincoln Riley could make USC football fire him. Or, he could just cut and run‘Tough decisions have got to be made’And the schedule offers little relief.
In addition to this weekend’s showdown with No. 2 Ohio State in the US LBM Coaches Poll, the Trojans still must make a cross-country trip Nov. 14 to face defending national champion Indiana.
Then, of course, there’s the money.
An individual with knowledge of the contract terms told USA TODAY Sports that USC would be on the hook “for around $57 million” if it elected to fire Riley.
There is, however, another wrinkle.
After USC dismissed Mike Bohn, the athletic director who hired Riley, and lured Jennifer Cohen away from Washington to lead the athletic department, Riley’s contract stipulates his buyout to leave USC would be waived.
That makes more sense than Dabo SwinneyCollege football coaching carousel picks up speedThat potentially creates a much cleaner path to a breakup if Riley decides he wants out.
More than one individual told USA TODAY Sports over the weekend that “honestly, that’s probably what’s best for everyone.”
USC is 6-2, placing the Trojans' hopes of a College Football Playoff berth into serious jeopardy. It follows a string of disappointing seasons that saw USC fail to reach double digit wins since Riley's first year in 2022, when the Trojans went 11-3 and narrowly missed a CFP berth after a loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship.
Getty ImagesAs pressure mounts on Lincoln Riley in his fifth year at USC, there are questions about his long-term future in Los Angeles. Despite that, Riley says he's committed to the Trojans.Coming off an ugly loss to Wisconsin, USC is 6-2 with its College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Things won't get any easier this weekend with No. 2 Ohio State coming to town. If the Trojans lose to another backup quarterback in Big Ten play, the temperature of Riley's seat will climb.With three Power...
Getty Images
As pressure mounts on Lincoln Riley in his fifth year at USC, there are questions about his long-term future in Los Angeles. Despite that, Riley says he's committed to the Trojans.
Coming off an ugly loss to Wisconsin, USC is 6-2 with its College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Things won't get any easier this weekend with No. 2 Ohio State coming to town. If the Trojans lose to another backup quarterback in Big Ten play, the temperature of Riley's seat will climb.
With three Power Four jobs already open -- and more on the way over the next month -- could Riley look for an exit at USC? Riley said he's happy in LA and made sure to point out that he left another major program to coach the Trojans.
"I love it here," Riley said. "I've told you guys many times. There's not many people in college football history who gave up what I gave up to come here. I don't care if it's 15 years down the line. That should never be taken lightly, and it's not taken lightly by me. I came here because this is where I wanted to be. I came here because I believe in this place, and none of that has changed whatsoever."
In some ways, Riley's perspective can be understood. He had a good setup at Oklahoma, where he was reaching the College Football Playoff regularly, and had the resources to compete with other top programs.
On the other hand, fans probably don't want to hear some version of "look what I left behind to come here" when the Trojans have zero ranked wins, and their two losses came against a trainwreck of an Oregon team and unranked Wisconsin.
Asked about the pressure that comes with coaching at a blue-blood program, Riley couldn't remember the last time he coached a team without high expectations. He pointed to his first year coaching the Sooners as an example of how fan sentiment can change on a dime.
"Every single year I've went in with high standards and championship expectations," Riley said. "The first loss I had at Oklahoma, I didn't think I was gonna be able to get out of bed the next morning. On top of that, there were people trying to run me out of town right away.
"I learned a lesson pretty quick that the highs and lows of this thing, if you let those get to you, then you're not the right person for the job."
Riley hasn't done himself many favors at USC. In fact, he's gotten a fair amount of patience at a school with a rich history of winning big. After winning 11 games in his first year on the job, Riley hasn't reached double-digit wins since then and hasn't come close to reaching the College Football Playoff.
The noise around Riley isn't quieted by the fact that his boss, athletic director Jennifer Cohen, isn't the person who hired him. Asked about his relationship with Cohen, Riley described it as "fantastic" and said Cohen has done a great job supporting the football program.
"She's a tremendous AD," Riley said. "Even though she's not the AD I came here with -- and I'm not the coach she hired -- we have a fantastic relationship. She's been a huge part of all the progress we've made and has been incredibly supportive."
Riley has a prime opportunity to silence some critics and cool down his seat this weekend. If USC can take down the second-ranked Buckeyes, its College Football Playoff path will widen, and Riley will have a much-needed signature win.
If the Trojans miss the mark in another big game, however, Riley will only face more questions like these when he takes the podium.
By Field Level MediaOct 28 (Field Level Media) – After a disheartening loss last Saturday at Wisconsin all but doused Southern California’s College Football Playoff hopes, head coach Lincoln Riley insisted that he remains the right man to lead the Trojans.Including this season’s 6-2 record, Riley is 41-20 in his fifth year in Los Angeles and has yet to lead USC to a CFP appearance.“Listen, if I didn’t want to be at this place, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. I’ve ha...
By Field Level Media
Oct 28 (Field Level Media) – After a disheartening loss last Saturday at Wisconsin all but doused Southern California’s College Football Playoff hopes, head coach Lincoln Riley insisted that he remains the right man to lead the Trojans.
Including this season’s 6-2 record, Riley is 41-20 in his fifth year in Los Angeles and has yet to lead USC to a CFP appearance.
“Listen, if I didn’t want to be at this place, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to leave,” Riley told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “This is where I want to be. This is the right place for me. I’m the right person to be here. And that’s as honest and transparent as I can be with you guys.”
The Trojans have not won a conference title under Riley, losing to Utah in the 2022 Pac-12 championship game and finishing in a tie for fourth in the Big Ten last season.
Riley, 43, who compiled a 55-10 record at Oklahoma from 2017-21, balked at the notion that he might be a better fit at another program.
“I love it here. I mean like I told you guys a lot of times – there’s not many people in college football history that gave up what I gave up to come here,” Riley said. “I don’t care if it’s 15 years down the line, that never should be taken lightly. It’s certainly not taken lightly by me. I came here because I believe in this place and none of that has changed whatsoever.”
This season began with a lot of fanfare after Riley secured the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and USC opened a new $200 million football facility.
The Trojans won their first four games and climbed to No. 12 in the Top 25 before falling 41-27 at home to then-No. 20 Oregon on Sept. 26. They dropped out of the poll following last Saturday’s 24-7 road loss to the Badgers.
“When you’re a head coach of a blue-blood school, you have to be ready to weather the storms, the overly positive or the overly negative,” Riley said. “Typically, what I’ve learned from doing this for a few years, I haven’t learned it all, but the truth typically lies somewhere in the middle. And that’s typically where it’s at even if you know that it’s going to sensationalize. And so my job is to stay steady.”
A daunting schedule looms starting Saturday at home against No. 2 Ohio State. After a bye week, the Trojans visit No. 4 Indiana on Nov. 14 before hosting Maryland (Nov. 21) and closing with rival and No. 7 UCLA (Nov. 28).
(-Field Level Media)
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