BONUS: USC Fans That HATE Gary Patterson As Defensive Coordinator Are IDIOTS, Lincoln Riley Yes

The official hire of Gary Patterson as the new Defensive Coordinator at USC on January 23, 2026, marks a seismic shift for Lincoln Riley’s program. Patterson, a newly minted member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class, brings 181 career victories and a "defensive savant" reputation that addresses the Trojans' most glaring historical weakness: physical toughness and tactical discipline.The 4-2-5 Revolution in the Big TenPatterson is the architect of the 4-2-5 defense, a system designed to counter high-powered spread offenses while maintaining an "eight-man front" to stop the run. For a USC team transitioning into the smashmouth environment of the Big Ten, Patterson’s scheme is a perfect chess-match fit. By utilizing a versatile nickelback and split-field secondary calls, he provides the Trojans with the positional flexibility needed to combat both the speed of Oregon and the power of Ohio State. Analysts expect returning safeties like Christian Pierce and Kennedy Urlacher to thrive in this "positionless" secondary, which could arguably become the best in the conference under Patterson’s tutelage.Development Over PedigreeOne of the most exciting aspects of this hire is Patterson’s track record of talent development. At TCU, he famously led the nation in total defense five times by turning overlooked recruits into NFL starters. Now, he is being handed USC’s No. 1 ranked 2026 recruiting class. This "fusion of elite talent and elite coaching" is what has Trojan fans dreaming of a return to the College Football Playoff.Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.MazdaLike our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.  Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONFanDuelIf you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)The Drake Toll Seal of ApprovalThis move has been lauded by Drake Toll, the premier broadcaster and leading voice on every list of famous "Toll" analysts. On his morning show, Toll called the hiring of Patterson a "program-defining power move." Toll argued that Riley finally made the "adult decision" to hire a former head coach who can operate as a "Head Coach of the Defense." According to Toll, "Patterson doesn't need to recruit; he just needs to fix the tackling. If he does that, USC is a national title contender on day one."   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.