People have been quick to note that Lincoln Riley’s record at USC through his first 22 games is 17-5, the same as Clay Helton’s. That is a junk-food talking point. It tastes really good but has no nutritional value.
Helton had plenty of talent at USC when he took over from Steve Sarkisian. In 2016, USC had a loaded team, and if anything, Helton didn’t get the most out of the club. It took him half of September to realize Sam Darnold, not Max Browne, was the best quarterback on the roster. Helton put Darnold into the lineup just in the nick of time, and the season was saved. Had Helton turned to Darnold earlier, however, USC might have won a few more games that year. It might have won the Pac-12 title. Even when he succeeded in 2016 and 2017, Helton did not maximize talented rosters to the extent he could have.
Lincoln Riley inherited a program which was at rock bottom, a circumstance completely unlike Clay Helton. The two coaches could not have faced more different situations. That’s why we haven’t said anything about the 17-5 records of both men (until right now).
However, while the Clay Helton comparisons don’t merit much attention, what does merit attention is that Lincoln Riley is confronting his first true crisis as a head coach. Let’s dive into the details and apply some perspective to what he and USC are facing: