USC's Playoff Hopes on Thin Ice | Los Angeles News

USC’s season hinges on Jayden Maiava and Lincoln Riley surviving a gauntlet of elite matchups—Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State—and winning at least three to stay playoff relevant. Early wins against San Jose State and Fresno State are vital for young players to find rhythm before conference firecrackers like Oregon loom, where Maiava must rebound from a brutal 2023 outing. A slip-up against the Ducks could trigger a cascade of losses against Washington, Wisconsin, and Penn State, threatening Riley’s job security and plunging USC into a playoff-free fall. Every game is now a lifeline—or a death knell. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/890b150be1876f65 Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Los Angeles News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews