Oct 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches from the sidelines against the Utah Utes in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Several fans felt that a late call from USC head coach Lincoln Riley on Saturday may have been the difference in the team’s brutal loss to Maryland.
The Trojans had a 28-22 lead and possession with two minutes left at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. With USC facing 3rd-and-8 on Maryland’s 31, quarterback Miller Moss’s pass to wide receiver Makai Lemon ended up just a yard short of a first down.
Instead of going for it on 4th-and-1, Riley opted to send out his field goal unit. The 41-yard attempt was blocked and returned all the way to midfield.
Maryland ended up scoring a go-ahead touchdown to pull off a 29-28 come-from-behind win.
USC could have virtually iced the game with a first down. Even if the Trojans had failed to convert, the Terrapins would have had to start their drive deep in their own territory needing a touchdown.