Gary Patterson’s USC defense is Lincoln Riley’s big playoff bet
Lincoln Riley says USC is better equipped after hiring Gary Patterson to fix a defense that has lagged far behind its offense.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The Gary Patterson USC defense project has become the swing piece in Lincoln Riley’s push to turn a loaded Trojans roster into a College Football Playoff team.
Riley told reporters Tuesday at Big Ten media days that practices have changed since Patterson, the former TCU coach and College Football Hall of Famer, joined the staff. “It’s tougher to move the ball in practice,” Riley said, according to CBS Sports. “Coach Patterson is one of one.”
USC brings back 15 starters from a 9-4 team, which CBS Sports reported is the most in the country. That group includes nine offensive starters from a unit that ranked eighth nationally last season, plus quarterback Jayden Maiava, a redshirt senior who led the Big Ten in passing yards and returned after passing on the NFL Draft.
The catch is the same one that has trailed Riley in Los Angeles: the defense has not matched the offense.
What does Gary Patterson bring to USC?
Patterson brings the 4-2-5 defense he built over two decades at TCU, a system based on speed, an extra defensive back and assignments designed to let players react quickly. CBS Sports reported that he had not coached a game since leaving TCU after the 2021 season.
Riley and Patterson know each other well from the Big 12. Riley went 55-10 at Oklahoma, while Patterson’s TCU teams had five seasons finishing No. 1 nationally on defense, according to CBS Sports.
Riley said Patterson’s work at TCU stood out because the Horned Frogs often faced Oklahoma teams with deeper talent. “I’ve never coached against somebody that I thought was more unique and tougher to go against than Gary Patterson,” Riley said.
USC’s numbers explain the urgency. Since Riley arrived in 2022, CBS Sports reported that the Trojans rank No. 1 nationally in offensive yards per play, while sitting 117th on defense. In that span, USC is third in points per game on offense and 87th on defense.
Last season, the Trojans allowed 23 points per game and ranked 51st defensively, according to CBS Sports. Riley said he is proud of the progress, but wants the defense to reach the level of USC’s offense and special teams.
Why USC’s defense has been Riley’s sticking point
USC started 11-1 early in Riley’s tenure despite poor defensive rankings, then allowed 47 points in a Pac-12 Championship loss to Utah and 46 in the Cotton Bowl against Tulane. The next season, the Trojans finished 116th in total defense while giving up 34.4 points per game, and coordinator Alex Grinch was fired.
D’Anton Lynn improved the unit after arriving from UCLA, but later left for Penn State, his alma mater. Riley said Tuesday that USC inherited bigger talent gaps on defense than on offense and has spent years building that side of the roster.
Players are already selling Patterson’s impact. Defensive lineman Jide Abasiri said Patterson has simplified responsibilities and communicates in broader terms. Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeren said Patterson’s long career gets players’ attention when he speaks.
The personnel is stronger, too. CBS Sports pointed to former five-star Jahkeem Stewart, who earned Freshman All-American honors in 2025 after playing through a foot stress fracture, plus edge rushers Kameryn Crawford and Braylan Shelby. Freshmen Luke Wafle and Jaimeon Winfield add more high-end talent up front.
Riley said USC is “more equipped than at any point in the previous few years,” citing returning starters, freshmen, transfers and competition on both lines of scrimmage.
The playoff math is blunt. Riley went to three College Football Playoffs at Oklahoma and has yet to win a title at USC. If Patterson’s defense catches up, Riley’s best Trojans roster may finally have the missing piece.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.