USC Trojans Tuesday Practice Notes: Wisconsin week is here • 4 days until kickoff
The USC Trojans wrapped up their Tuesday practice as they get ready for the Wisconsin Badgers this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC. Another prime-time spot and another must-have game to keep the playoff hopes alive. After practice, we spoke with Lincoln Riley, Jayden Maiava, Tanook Hines, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and starting right tackle Justin Tauanuu.
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Lincoln Riley And The USC Trojans Are Trusting The Process, Not The Results
Injury Watch
- No real injury update today. The first availability report drops Wednesday at 5 p.m.
- Riley didn’t share anything specific, but it doesn’t sound like any new injuries popped up.
- Three names to monitor:
- Mark Bowman (TE): Still working back. Status for Saturday is the big question.
- Jide Abasiri (DT): Only played one snap at Penn State.
- Elijah Paige (LT): Late scratch before Penn State. True freshman Vlad Dyakonov stepped in and played very well.
- I feel good about all three, but we’ll get real clarity once the report is out.
Process Over Results
The biggest takeaway from Riley today. He was asked how he handles his team coming off adversity (the Oregon loss) compared to coming off a big win (Penn State) heading into the bye.
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- His answer: USC is process-driven, not results-driven.
- The idea is that the coaching, practice, and preparation process should look the same from Week 1 to Week 12, whether you win or lose.
- Small pivots for injuries or scheduling are fine, but the core stays the same.
- USC Trojans are 6-1, and Riley said there’s been a ton to correct even in the wins. You take the good and the bad from every game, including the Oregon loss.
- It’s a very Nick Saban idea. I literally watched the process episode of the new ESPN Saban doc the night before, so this one hit home.
My take: I get the eye rolls. This is Year 5, not Year 1, and fans want results, not process. That’s 100% fair. But a staff can’t scrap everything because of outside noise after one loss. Sometimes you have to make a change (see the 2023 Alex Grinch firing), but this season hasn’t gone off the rails. If you want to judge on results, the team has improved week to week on offense, defense, and special teams since Oregon. If the bye week keeps that going, it sets up well for the Ohio State and Indiana stretch. Gotta get through Wisconsin first, though.
Getting Ready For Camp Randall
- This is a new environment for Riley and pretty much the whole roster. Last time these two met, it was at the Coliseum.
- The speakers were blasting crowd noise again today, with “Jump Around” mixed in.
- One of the players (Dixon-Wyatt or Hines) said they’re playing it in the meeting rooms too, to get in that mindset.
- White Out at Penn State and then Jump Around at Wisconsin. Two iconic venues and traditions back to back. USC Trojans have to play spoiler again and quiet the crowd.
- The theme all year is treating every game like just another game, while still respecting where you’re going.
- My take: It may seem small, but those details stack up, and stacked details win games.
Riding The Momentum
- Riley talked about building off the Penn State win.
- Two straight games came down to the defense making the critical stops to close it out (the offense did salt away Penn State with a couple of first downs).
- Don’t get too high or too low, but use that confidence.
- My take: You want guys to show up knowing they’ll win their rep, not hoping. That confidence comes from winning those moments in past weeks and from the prep process carrying it forward.
What’s Next
- Wednesday: First availability report (5 p.m.) and defensive players at media.
- Thursday: Lincoln Riley’s weekly Zoom, with more Wisconsin focus.
- This week: A Wisconsin podcast host is joining the show for the full game preview.
Quick Notes
It was a quieter media day, which is normal after a bye and this early in the week. The message was clear, though: same process, same standard, win or lose. Now the USC Trojans have to take that into Madison.
Fight On.