Lincoln Riley, blink twice if you’re in danger.

If Alex Grinch isn’t holding the USC head coach hostage, he’s at least holding the defense under lock and key. And he is most certainly holding the Trojans back.

On a day in which the vaunted USC offense staked the eighth-ranked Trojans a 27-point lead, the Grinch-led defense nearly choked away that massive advantage in a 48-41 win that was much uglier than it needed to be.

Colorado’s halftime attitude adjustment and momentum after a late first-half touchdown — combined with USC’s sudden inability to tackle — helped the Buffaloes get back in the game. Colorado ultimately out-gained USC, 564-498, including a 193-95 edge on the ground.

After the game, Riley was asked for the 497th time if he still has faith in Grinch. His 3-word answer wasn’t exactly sung praises.

“Yes, I do,” Riley said after the latest absurdity.

Sounding like a broken record, all the while his Heisman quarterback threatens to break them.

If the USC defense doesn’t break down first.

*****

We’re long past wondering what the Trojans would look like with a mere mortal at quarterback.

But on Saturday morning in front of a nationally televised audience, Caleb Williams dialed it up once more. Think the kid doesn’t know when eyeballs are watching?

He had 403 yards and 6 touchdowns, including 4 in the first half, giving him 21 in 5 games. Against a Colorado defense that was missing 2-way star Travis Hunter at cornerback and talented safety Shilo Sanders, Williams feasted. He barely took time to put down the fork in the first half.

But a third-quarter interception on a deep ball to Mario Williams while on the run — Caleb Williams’ first pick of the year — only helped fuel Colorado’s comeback.

And the defense was only happy to add some gasoline. Between missed tackles, blown coverages, and the shocking emergence of Colorado true freshman wideout Omarion Miller, the Buffaloes’ offense took flight in the second half.

Miller had his first career catch midway through the third quarter, and it was a good one, going for 65 yards. He’d finish with a Colorado freshman record 196 yards on 7 catches with a score, lighting up USC’s DBs for the last 20 minutes of the game.

Shedeur Sanders finished with 375 passing yards and 4 touchdowns on 30-of-45 attempts on the day.

“They made plays and we kind of didn’t,” Riley said. “We had opportunities on all 3 sides, opportunities to finish the plays offensively, to get the quarterback down, to tackle hitches for a 5-yard gain — the things we did in the first half. Listen, when you stop doing those things on the road against a team that has some talent like they do, they’re going to make a run. And they did.

“It’s (the) self-inflicted errors.”

*****

In a somewhat contentious post-game press conference, Riley disagreed when a reporter asked about the same issues plaguing USC’s defense as they did last year. Riley even tossed out a little big-timing at the end.

“It’s not really the same issues,” Riley said. “I don’t agree with that. Even right now, when something doesn’t go our way, it doesn’t look like it did last year, not to the trained eye, not to a coach.”

It doesn’t take Vince Lombardi to spot missed tackles or over-pursuit. I may not be Weeb Ewbank reincarnated, but I know a bad tackle.

And let me take the time to disagree with yet another one of Riley’s contentions.

“We did the things you don’t do when you’re trying to finish out a good opponent on the road. So, excited about the good, a lot we’ve got to correct, which, I mean, that’s college football. That’s how it goes.”

No, that’s really not true.

Oregon may have taken its foot off the gas pedal, but the defense barely let Sanders breathe last Saturday in a 42-6 win that was more decisive than even that final margin. The Ducks’ D absolutely chewed up the Colorado offensive line, which looked like the team’s biggest weak link.

And on Saturday, the Trojans made the Buffs look like the Buffs of old up front.

Speaking of getting old, so too is Riley’s act.

As if this is just the nature of the game. As if USC’s coaching, preparations, scouting, and play-calling have nothing to do with it. As if Grinch should still be calling plays.

This is not just the game.

This is USC football under Riley. And if they don’t snap out of it with Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, and Oregon looming, even Williams’ heroics won’t matter much.