USC Shows Adjustments inโ Narrow โNebraska Victory, Raising Hopes for Lincoln Riley‘s Future
LINCOLN, NE – November 2, 2025 -โ In a tightly contested 21-17 โคvictory over Nebraska,โ USC demonstrated key adjustments under head โขcoachโข Lincoln โRiley, offering aโค glimmer ofโค optimism for a program that has faced โcriticism for its inability toโ adapt. โขThe win, described asโ a “clunker” despite theโ result, came after USC โimplemented changes both offensively and defensivelyโ that fans and analysts have long called for.
A meaningful shift in the offensive โฃapproachโ saw quarterback Jayden Maiava utilized as a rushing threat, carryingโ theโค ball 11 times – a marked increaseโฃ from previousโ games and featuring several designed runs. This unlocked a new dimension toโ the USC offense.
Defensively, USC surprisingly โemployedโฃ man-to-man press coverage, a strategy that proved โฃeffective,โ particularly before Nebraska turned to backup quarterbackโ TJ Lateef. These adjustments represent a departure fromโข Riley’s previously rigid approach, which hasโ been a source of frustration for supporters.
Riley also opted to stick with โMaiava at quarterback, bypassing backup Husan Longstreet. Despite continuing to call innovative โplays – including a direct snap to King Miller and a flea flickerโ resulting inโค a touchdown to โคJaden Richardson – Rileyโฃ paired thoseโ with more conventional adjustments. the two-point conversionโข play involving maiava and Richardson proved crucial toโ the win, as USC โคmay not have prevailed โคwithout it.
Theโ victory arrives amidst a period of underperformance following โinitial optimism inโ 2022. Riley’s reluctance to adjust strategies has been cited asโฃ aโข factor slowing โฃUSC’s return to national prominence. However, theโ programโค is actively addressing concerns, including a commitment to improved recruiting, highlighted by securing โคthe No. 1 recruiting class for 2026.
While acknowledging past mistakes, Rileyโ and USCโ are hoping โขthese recent changes will propel the โteam toward becoming a perennial contender.โข The upcoming game against Oregon carries significant weight, with fans prioritizing a win irrespective of theโ scoreline.
Despite lingering nervousness surroundingโ USC’s remaining four games, the adjustmentsโ madeโ againstโค Nebraska offer a reasonโฃ for cautious optimism.
