LOS ANGELES — In front of another podium, in front of another grouping of some of the most important people on and beyond USC’s campus, Lincoln Riley stood for a public address Thursday morning and flashed back to the first footsteps he’d taken here.

The Trojans hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma after the 2021 season, in a move that sent shockwaves through the college football world and was widely praised as a great hire.

While USC football hasn't been playing up to their expected standards, Lincoln Riley isn't expected to be fired anytime soon.

Riley has often said he wants players who are dying to be Trojans. Nobody epitomizes that better than Miller Moss.

With the early signing day period officially less than a month away, the USC Trojans coaching staff will hit the recruiting trail this week during the team's second bye week. Lincoln Riley will venture around Southern California.

Things are pretty ugly for Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans these days, and the third-year head coach appears to be going into panic mode because of it.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley made waves during the Trojans bye week by announcing that quarterback Miller Moss is benched in favor of sophomore Jayden Maiava.

CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer shut down the idea of USC firing Lincoln Riley this offseason due to the Jimbo Fisher buyout-esque payday the Trojans would need to dole out. Hummer sees Riley and his No. 9-ranked 2025 recruiting class making a comeback next season.