A long-awaited turning point may finally be arriving for a college football program marked by high expectations and repeated setbacks. After years of building around a Heisman-winning quarterback whose potential never fully materialized, the coach faces a critical moment to prove past struggles were just growing pains. The program’s repeated near-misses in playoff contention have left fans and analysts questioning whether recent adjustments could now pay off—or if the cycle of disappointment will continue. With high stakes and a history of close calls, the coming weeks will test whether this season breaks the pattern or deepens the frustration.
This could be the start of the payoff for all of USC coach Lincoln Riley’s heartache and strain. All of that early promise with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback that never was fulfilled. All of those seasons that ended short of the College Football Playoff. All of the constant pivoting this way and that to address...
