Matt Leinart reveals what a successful 2022 season for USC looks like
The question has been asked of Lincoln Riley a ton since taking the USC job and moving to Los Angeles—what would constitute a successful first year with the Trojans?
Riley hasn’t shied away from expectations, saying at a press conference back in February that the bar shouldn’t be lowered at a program like USC, but the Trojans are in the midst of a massive roster overhaul in Riley’s first year. For the team’s spring game on Saturday, there were 60 scholarship players. Caleb Williams, expected to be the star of the show come fall, didn’t get the typical QB1 treatment you see with other quarterbacks in these types of games; no quick hook after a few series, Williams played the entire game, switching off drives with Miller Moss as the only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster.
Riley has to build depth now as USC transitions away from spring and toward the summer period.
But USC showed flashes of something impressive during its spring showcase. Williams looked good. Former USC great Matt Leinart was on hand to take it all in, and he had an answer to the “what will success look like” question.
Matt Leinart was just asked by @iammsuzy how many wins would make the upcoming USC season a successful one: "9 or 10."
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) April 23, 2022
That’s a pretty high bar to clear. But Leinart is all in on Riley.
Former #USC QB Matt Leinart on head coach Lincoln Riley: "He's a genius. He really is." #FightOn
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) April 23, 2022
The Trojans open the season at home against Rice on Sept. 3.
The anticipation will only continue to build.