USC football does not just stumble under the spotlight. It melts. The Trojans earned the reputation of a big-game bungler well before Lincoln Riley arrived in Los Angeles, but their current head coach still deserves gobs of criticism for failing to prepare his team for upper-tier competition. Missed opportunities and poor discipline defined Saturday's 27-13 road loss versus No. 9 Indiana.

Longtime sports media personality Colin Cowherd expressed his bewilderment with USC's approach in Bloomington.

“Why has USC decided on such a safe/conservative game plan vs Indiana,” he asked on X. “No sense of urgency. Is Lincoln Riley aware of the stakes? Such a passive approach. Both sides of the ball. Indiana mistakes have kept them in the game.”

The Trojans were tied with the Hoosiers at halftime and had chances to regain momentum in the fourth quarter. An ill-fated 27-yard field goal attempt and goal-line interception produced another high-profile defeat. This latest one ends the season for Riley and company. Speculation regarding the program's future will persist. The outrage will grow louder in LA.

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USC would have gained entry into the College Football Playoff if the field was expanded to 12 teams back in 2022, but the school has not posted a double-digit win season since. The same problems plague Riley's group year after year. Penalties and bad defense overshadow the ample talent and resources the Trojans possess. Star power and LA glamour can only do so much.

Fans demand and deserve better results. Will Lincoln Riley get another chance to deliver them? Colin Cowherd and other pundits can debate that question.