Lincoln Riley is acutely aware of the stakes involved as his USC Trojans, boasting a record of 7-2 and holding the No. 17 rank, prepare to face the No. 21 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3) this weekend. This matchup represents a pivotal moment in the 2025 season, and Riley is making every effort to ensure his players grasp the gravity of the situation.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a challenging defeat against Oregon, but they remain a formidable opponent capable of triumphing over any team in the nation. With only three games left in the season, the Trojans are in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff, making this upcoming game all the more crucial. Riley firmly believes there is no reason to minimize the significance of these final matches, particularly the one against Iowa. “We haven”t been bashful about that with our players,” Riley stated regarding the importance of the Trojans” concluding games. “This game coming up this weekend is not the same. It”s not. The more you win, the more important these become and the bigger these opportunities become. So, our team is very well aware of that.”
On paper, this matchup appears to favor the Trojans, but the unpredictable nature of college football means anything can occur on game day. The Trojans will host Iowa, which faces the challenge of traveling across the country to play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The last time Iowa played there was in 1976, when they suffered a 55-0 loss to USC. Additionally, Iowa”s last visit to Southern California was during the 2016 Rose Bowl, where they faced off against the Stanford Cardinal, who showcased a standout performance from Christian McCaffrey.
Although the Hawkeyes have struggled in games outside of Iowa City, their recent battle against Oregon demonstrated their resilience. Coach Kirk Ferentz”s squad will undoubtedly be focused and attempt to engage the Trojans in a physical contest. They nearly succeeded against the Ducks, indicating that Iowa is likely to implement a similar strategy against USC.
Ultimately, the Trojans have a significant opportunity ahead of them. Should USC achieve a clean sweep by winning all three remaining games, they would finish the season at 10-2, securing their place in the CFP conversation. However, failure to capitalize on this moment could lead to disappointment. This is why Riley is emphasizing the critical nature of the upcoming games to his team. They must be ready to give their all, as a shot at the CFP hangs in the balance. “You can”t hide from it. You”ve got to embrace it. That doesn”t mean you”re gonna go change everything you do because of it, but you also understand it”s hard to get to this point. If you”re here, let”s go make the most of it,” Riley concluded.
