Lincoln Riley discusses USC's victory over UCLA in Crosstown Showdown

On Saturday evening, the USC football team defeated rival UCLA 29-10 at the Coliseum. With the victory, the Trojans retained the Victory Bell and finished the 2025 regular season with a record of 9-3.

Following the game, USC head coach Lincoln Riley discussed the victory. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say:

On winning the game

"A tremendous win," Riley said. "Proud of the response there in the second half, another dominant performance defensively there in the second half. Special teams and offense were able to finish some plays there. And obviously, we just got on a big run there as a team and really, really separated.

"Rivalry games are always tough, and just a great way to end the season."

On finishing 7-0 at home this season

"One of the things we talked about earlier in the season with this team was protecting our home," Riley said. "It’s one, that us as a program, playing well at home. And then the flip side of that is the Coliseum lit up like it was tonight. There was a major factor in the game. Again, it was an awesome, awesome atmosphere. It has been all year. For us to run the table here at home and play the way that we did was really key to this season."

On wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane not playing in the first quarter

"There was a violation of a team policy, and that was the decision that was made," Riley said.

On the legacy of this year's team

"I think we’re a better team, we’re a better program now than we were 12 months ago," Riley said. "We’ll have better teams here in the future than this team, but I don’t know if we’ll have had a more important team. This team was really, really important to what we’re doing, and I couldn’t be prouder of them."

On this year's seniors

"Kind of hard to imagine they just played their last game here in the Coliseum, hard to even fathom," Riley said. "I’m sure they can’t really process it right now either. But what a great memory to go out on. You know, these guys help pave the way. This team helped pave the way."

On the atmosphere at the Coliseum

"I understand that Los Angeles is a place that people aren’t going to show up just because. You have to win. You have to give them something. And when you do, there’s no better sports town. And tonight, and multiple times throughout this season, was an example of that. And I think those moments in the Coliseum, us playing well, the crowd going crazy, like those are important, man, because every one just gets better. This year was better than last year, and then next year is going to be better, even better than this, and it's going to keep growing and growing.

"And yeah, I just think it shows that this city is excited about the Trojans again. And you feel that. Our players feel that. Our recruits feel that. It just makes it one of those special places when you’re out there and you’re playing or you’re coaching, and you think, 'This is pretty damn special.' You just feel it. And that energy is huge. And great programs have a great home field advantage. It’s worth a lot in this game. And that didn’t exist here for a little while. It does now."

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley discusses USC football's 29-10 rivalry victory over UCLA