USC Loss to Utah Highlights Wasted Talent of Williams and Defensive Struggles under Lincoln Riley's Leadership

Lincoln Riley facing criticism for failure to effectively utilize star player Caleb Williams, poor defensive strategies and recent losses; some question whether USC's reputation is being restored under his leadership.

Despite initial high hopes for Coach Lincoln Riley's leadership, USC's performance has been marked by underwhelming defensive strategies and wasted talent, particularly that of star player Caleb Williams.
In a repeat of last year's underperformance, USC again lost to Utah, costing them a chance at the College Football Playoff despite the exceptional abilities of Williams, a potential first pick at the NFL Draft.
Riley has been criticized for a weak defense, with USC conceding an average of 407.6 yards and 30.5 points per game, some of the worst figures in any power conference program.
Although Caleb Williams has shown regression in recent games, with just one touchdown and three interceptions in the last two weeks, it's argued that the poor defense strategy is more to blame for the loss to Utah and consequently, the playoff bid.
With upcoming games against Washington and Oregon, USC's leadership under Lincoln Riley faces scrutiny and the projection of his first four-loss season in his coaching career, contradicting his intention of restoring USC's reputation.