LOS ANGELES, CA – The grand opening of the University of Southern California’s Lincoln Riley era kicked off with a new logo on his familiar brow and plenty of field fireworks from faces both new and old. USC scored the most points in a game since 2008 thanks to a clinical offensive debut by quarterback Caleb Williams and three touchdown interceptions returned by the USC defense as they beat Rice 66-14 in the opening game of the Trojan season.
“We understand that this is just the beginning and that there is a lot left, and it’s a lot better to play, and it’s better to train,” Riley said. “It’s a great start; it’s nothing more, and nothing less.”
Even if Riley didn’t want to inflate the score, it couldn’t be much better than it was. USC finished with 538 yards, 27 first touchdowns, and one throw that came with 12:21 left in the fourth quarter after Williams and a group of rookies were out.
“I think we have a lot of confidence,” said Williams, who moved from Oklahoma after Riley’s appointment. “And we didn’t just build that confidence that we came out here excited for the first match.”
Of any new player, Williams had the most anticipation ahead of the opening game, but watching him play, it was hard to see any semblance of pressure or expectations affecting him. Williams was comfortable in his pocket which allowed him to take his time and complete 19 of his 22 passing attempts (best for a USC quarterback since Matt Barkley in 2012) including passes to 12 different receivers as well as two touchdowns to the highly-promoted one. This off-season Trojans move: Pletnikov winner Jordan Addison.
“Since he got here, it’s been like we’ve been dating for the past year,” Williams said. “It was easy.”
Everything looked easy for Williams in the opening game, including using his dribbling ability to dance through Rice’s defense to 68 yards flowing on six carts. It looked as though Williams had barely sweated through three quarters, and when he felt it was time for Riley to take him out of the game, Williams did his best to keep playing.
“Oh, I didn’t want to go out, so I was trying to play as smart as possible by getting off before anyone hit me,” Williams said. “(Riley) said, ‘I know you’re trying to stay in the game.'”
“It’s not first year anymore,” Riley joked in the press room.
For all the attention on the high-powered USC attack, the surprise of the game was the USC defense. Unity entered the season with most questions regarding their depth and talent, and although they started the game by allowing two long runs for the touchdown, they woke up in a big way with four interceptions – the defense had four seasons throughout last season – including three comebacks by sophomore Kalin Bullock. , Alabama transfer line player Shane Lee and first quarterback Ralen Goforth.
“It has become a reality today,” said Alex Grinch, defense coordinator. “You can only do so much in practice, which is crucial. No one will talk more about practice than me. But in the end, you have to get out on stage.”
Addison and Williams were up front, but plenty of other transfers and even some new starters made an immediate impact. Stanford’s Austin Jones got two rushing touchdowns while real freshman Ralke Brown had eight electric touches that bode well for the Trojans’ depth into the site.
In at least one game against an inferior opponent, USC didn’t look like a completely overhauled off-season team with over 40 new players. Instead, they set out to piece it all together and scored more points than they had in any game under former coach Clay Hilton.
“This is definitely a statement and that’s what we wanted to do,” Addison said. “We had to show everyone that this was not just propaganda. We are ready to play.”
Neither Riley nor any of the players has lost sight of the importance of the long-awaited journey to the first game under the new system. With temperatures hovering close to 100 degrees, the University of Southern California has announced just over 60,000 fans at the Colosseum with a capacity of 78,647.
“We understand that in this city, and I think it’s fair, we have to prove who we are as a team,” Riley said. “We will do everything we can as a team to keep working so that people don’t even bear the thought of not coming to a USC football game.”
“This is a new era, this is SC,” Oklahoma transfer wide receiver Mario Williams added.
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