USC coach Lincoln Riley understands how to go from Oct reduction to College or university Soccer Playoff

In every single of his very first 3 seasons as Oklahoma’s mentor, Lincoln Riley entered October with an unblemished file and a top-10 ranking … only to fall a game unexpectedly.

In 2017, it was Iowa Point out that upset the 3rd-ranked Sooners. A calendar year afterwards, Texas knocked No. 7 Oklahoma off its throne with a activity-profitable field purpose. A yr right after that, Riley’s Sooners had been as soon as once more upended in Oct, this time by Kansas State.

Every single of the three defeats at the time appeared to doom any hope of Oklahoma producing the University Soccer Playoff. But in all three circumstances, Riley’s staff didn’t shed another video game for the rest of the frequent period. All a few finished up earning locations in the Playoff.

It’s no speculate then, as USC enters its bye 7 days, that no one particular, least of all Riley, is panicking just after the Trojans experienced their to start with loss of the period past Saturday at Utah.

“You get tested in a different way when you drop one, especially the way that a person performed out,” Riley explained. “Everything I’ve found from this crew up to this level qualified prospects me to consider that we’ll tackle it in a way that provides us nearer with each other and makes us even better. We have to go do it. Experience that and thinking you are able is a person factor. Heading and carrying out it is another.”

A soft timetable out of the bye undoubtedly can help. USC’s next three opponents (Arizona, California and Colorado) are a put together 7-12. Right after touring to Tucson for their next matchup, the Trojans also don’t have to go away Los Angeles for the rest of the standard time.

Those favorable conditions will not make a difference a great deal if USC just can't obtain answers this 7 days to its concerns on defense, wherever the Trojans were trounced Saturday for 562 yards, the fifth-most yards they’ve provided up in a activity in excess of the earlier 10 years.

“I do not believe we have to have to abandon ship or nearly anything like that,” linebacker Shane Lee reported. “I just consider we need to have to tighten the hatches and bear down and seriously continue to dig into the specifics and concentration in.”

Inadequate tackling is an particularly pertinent problem. In accordance to Professional Soccer Focus, USC skipped 18 tackles from Utah, eight additional than in any other sport this season. Lee, who performed as a result of a hand injury, skipped five.

Riley stated USC would not keep back again tackling in apply this week, inspite of entering the bye with both sides of the ball banged up.

“There’s no stability,” Riley stated. “We have to clear it up.”

He’s cleaned up very similar messes just before. The query now, as USC faces its initial little bit of adversity, is regardless of whether this crew may abide by a equivalent path from its have mid-Oct slip-up.

“There’s no time to sulk,” Lee stated. “You have to choose on your own up and get back to perform. That’s what it’s about. There are other video games to enjoy. It is not the end of the time, not by any extend of the creativity.”

Addison, Gentry Ok

Its major wideout remaining with a leg injury. Its direct inside linebacker was carted off the subject with an wounded ankle. Equally were being relegated to crutches late in very last Saturday’s loss.

But Jordan Addison and Eric Gentry seem to have escaped with no significant injuries and are “day to working day,” Riley said Tuesday. The information constituted a big sigh of reduction for USC, which would’ve had issue replacing both player.

Addison leads USC in receptions (39), receiving yards (585) and getting touchdowns (7), when Gentry sales opportunities the Trojans in tackles (52). Irrespective of whether both will be all set to go when USC returns from its bye, even though, continues to be to be found.