Urban Meyer: USC Football is an 'Injured Animal'

Former three-time national championship-winning coach Urban Meyer has characterized USC football as an “injured animal,” pointing to head coach Lincoln Riley’s struggles against ranked opponents. Meyer made these remarks on his show, “The Triple Option,” on Friday, suggesting that USC’s current performance is indicative of a team in distress.

Since Riley’s arrival at USC in 2022, the team has compiled a 5-15 record against ranked opponents. This contrasts sharply with his tenure at Oklahoma, where he held a 15-6 record against ranked teams. Meyer drew a parallel to his own coaching experience, recalling how he successfully recruited top players from Texas to Ohio State during a period of struggle for his team.

Meyer described this recruitment strategy as targeting an "injured animal," a term he applied to USC’s current situation. He further elaborated on this strategy by referencing Kirby Smart’s approach at Georgia before he became head coach, where Smart also secured top in-state talent during the university's less successful periods.

Despite the critical assessment, USC has not yet lost any recruits following its recent 41-27 home loss to Oregon. However, the team faces a challenging schedule ahead. This Saturday, USC will host Washington, a program Riley has not yet defeated since joining USC in 2022. Following this game, the Trojans are slated for difficult road matchups against Penn State, Wisconsin, No. 6 Indiana, and No. 23 UCLA. The season will also include a home game against No. 5 Ohio State on October 31.

Looking ahead to the 2027 season, USC currently ranks No. 18 in recruiting, with commitments including one five-star recruit and eight four-star recruits, according to 247Sports.