LOS ANGELES — Don't be fooled by his understated demeanor. Lincoln Riley is brash. He tells you he's going to kick your you-know-what and he explains how he's going to do it.
Riley showed up here talking a big game, but with his first season as USC's coach nearly complete, he's convinced even the most cynical observers that he isn't just full of hot air from the Oklahoma plains.
He said he expected to compete for championships this year, and he did, the Trojans in line for a place in the College Football Playoff semifinals until they lost to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game.
