Los Angeles Times

Heisman winners and huge offenses won’t matter if Lincoln Riley can’t fix USC defense

USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch on the sidelines during a 66-14 win against Rice at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — Six seasons ago, in his first year as a coach, Lincoln Riley led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. It was a tremendous debut by nearly every measure. With a Heisman winner at quarterback and an offense capable of outscoring any other in college football, the Sooners’ 2017 run cemented Riley as one of the premier young offensive minds.

But it also ended in dramatic disappointment, as Oklahoma’s defense came unraveled in a double-overtime defeat, allowing 54 points and 527 yards to Georgia.

In 2018, Riley again led the Sooners to the Playoff with the

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