USC head coach Lincoln Riley criticized his team’s defensive effort after two key players botched tackles on Washington’s final touchdown in a 25-21 victory last Saturday. The Huskies’ Decker DeGraaf capitalized on a pair of sloppy two-handed shoves—one by safety Brian Urlacher near midfield and another by cornerback Elbert ‘Rock’ Hill IV inside the 20—before scoring.
Riley, visibly frustrated, called the missed tackles ‘out of character’ for both players, who have otherwise performed well this season. He emphasized that even with Hill’s face mask interference, there was no excuse for failing to drive DeGraaf out of bounds, calling it ‘zero excuse’ to play below their standard.
Riley addressed the duo afterward, reinforcing that such mistakes don’t align with the team’s expectations, though he acknowledged their overall contributions to the defense.
The Trojans’ late rally silenced student protesters who had chanted ‘Fire Riley!’ earlier in the game, as USC’s defense—boosted by linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson’s strong performance—held firm in the final minutes. Robinson stepped in for suspended linebacker Desman Stephens II, who missed the game after a suspension for an illegal celebration against Oregon.
Riley noted the rotation shift could create more opportunities for other linebackers, including Robinson, as USC prepares for a tough matchup against Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten), whose offense averages 32 points per game. The Trojans (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) limited Washington to just one touchdown after the third quarter, marking their fewest points allowed in a month.
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