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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The grand opening of the Lincoln Riley period at USC started with a brand new brand on his acquainted visor and loads of fireworks on the sector from new and outdated faces alike. USC scored essentially the most factors in a sport since 2008 because of a scientific offensive debut by quarterback Caleb Williams and three interceptions returned for touchdowns by the USC protection as they trounced Rice 66-14 within the Trojans’ season opener.
“We perceive that is only the start and there is a lot left, so significantly better to play, so significantly better to teach,” Riley mentioned. “It is an ideal begin; it isn’t something greater than that, not something lower than that.”
Even when Riley did not wish to inflate the end result, it could not have gone significantly better than it did. USC completed with 538 complete yards, 27 first downs, and a single punt that got here with 12:21 left within the fourth quarter simply after Williams and a bunch of starters on offense had exited.
“I feel we have now a variety of confidence,” Williams, who transferred from Oklahoma after Riley was employed, mentioned. “And we did not simply construct that confidence popping out right here being excited for the primary sport.”
Of any new participant, Williams had essentially the most anticipation heading into the opener, however watching him play, it was tough to see any semblance of strain or expectations affecting him. Williams was comfy in a pocket that allowed him to take his time and full 19 of his 22 move makes an attempt (greatest for a USC quarterback since Matt Barkley in 2012) together with passes to 12 completely different receivers in addition to two touchdowns to the opposite highly-touted switch the Trojans snagged this offseason: Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison.
“Since he received right here, it was virtually as if we have been throwing to one another for the previous 12 months,” Williams mentioned. “It has been straightforward.”
All the pieces appeared straightforward for Williams within the opener, together with utilizing his scrambling skill to bop by the Rice protection to the tune of 68 speeding yards on six carries. It appeared as is Williams barely broke a sweat by three quarters, and when he sensed that it might be time for Riley to drag him out of the sport, Williams tried his greatest to maintain enjoying.
“Oh, I did not wish to come out, so I used to be making an attempt to play as good as potential by happening earlier than anybody may hit me,” Williams mentioned. “(Riley) mentioned, ‘I do know you are making an attempt to remain within the sport’.”
“It isn’t Yr One anymore,” Riley joked within the press room.
For the entire consideration on USC’s high-powered offense, the shock of the sport was USC’s protection. The unit got here into the season with essentially the most questions surrounding its depth and expertise, and although they started the sport by permitting two lengthy drives for touchdowns, they awoke in a giant approach with 4 interceptions — the protection had 4 all of final season — together with three returned for touchdowns by sophomore Calen Bullock, Alabama switch linebacker Shane Lee and senior linebacker Ralen Goforth.
“It received actual right this moment,” defensive coordinator Alex Grinch mentioned. “You’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot in observe, and it is vital. Nobody will speak about observe greater than me. However in the end, you bought to go on the market on the stage.”
Addison and Williams have been the headliners, however loads of different transfers and even some incoming freshmen made a right away affect. Austin Jones, from Stanford, had two speeding touchdowns whereas true freshman Raleek Brown had eight electrical touches that bode effectively for the Trojans’ depth on the place.
For not less than one sport towards an inferior opponent, USC did not appear to be a workforce that had been utterly overhauled within the offseason with over 40 new gamers. As an alternative, they proceeded to place all of it collectively and rating extra factors than they’d in any sport beneath former head coach Clay Helton.
“That is undoubtedly a press release, that is what we wished to do,” Addison mentioned. “We needed to present all people that this wasn’t simply no hype. We able to play.”
The importance of the long-awaited journey to the primary sport beneath the brand new regime wasn’t misplaced on Riley or any of the gamers. As temperatures reached practically 100-degrees, USC introduced simply over 60,000 followers on the Coliseum the place capability is 78,647.
“We perceive that on this metropolis, and I feel it is honest, we gotta go show who we’re as a workforce,” Riley mentioned. “We’re gonna do all the things we will as a workforce to maintain working so that individuals cannot even stand the considered not coming to a USC soccer sport.”
Added Oklahoma switch extensive receiver Mario Williams: “It is a new period, this SC.”