LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lincoln Riley always speaks glowingly of the future at Southern California , with extraordinary recruiting classes and a lavish training complex on the way to lift the Trojans back to their customary perch atop college football.

Sure, the future could be great. But Trojans fans really wish Riley had done something to make the present more attractive after two mediocre seasons under their high-priced coach.

USC is not ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time since 2019, reflecting the college football world's skepticism about the state of Riley's project in its fourth year. It's still unclear whether Riley and defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn can translate USC's vaunted brand, bountiful resources and roster talent into wins.

“Seeing how our roster has

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