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Oklahoma fans are taking a moment to troll Lincoln Riley following a late game collapse in the Cotton Bowl. Riley’s Trojans blew a two-score lead against Group of Five team Tulane in the epic loss.
The defeat closes a season that’s been a disappointment in Los Angeles. Despite winning 11 games for the first time since 2017, the program just missed out on a monumental campaign.
This game was a microcosm of what the Trojans have been under Lincoln Riley in Year 1. While the offense can put up video game numbers, the defense is susceptible to being exploited. Riley’s offense averaged more than 41 points a game over the course of the year, but the defense surrendered at least 35 points in six of the final eight contests.
In the Cotton Bowl matchup, USC saw a 45-30 lead evaporate as the team allowed a pair of touchdowns and a safety in the final four minutes of play. While they led for nearly 50 minutes of gametime action, the late heroics of the Tulane Green Wave led to a one-point setback.
It’s been a season of “what ifs” for USC. They were close to making the program’s first playoff appearance behind the arm of Caleb Williams, but after ripping off 11 wins over their first 12 games, a loss in the PAC 12 Championship cost them a chance at a national title.
Then, came this.
And as you probably could’ve guessed, Oklahoma fans were quick to greet their former head coach with reactions online.
One person wrote, “Lincoln Riley was born on third base and will NEVER get that last 90 feet because his teams are soft… What a game.”
Another fan commented, “If that wasn’t the epitome of a Lincoln Riley coached team, I don’t know what is… Enjoy, USC fans.”
Riley left OU in the worst possible way, disappearing in the middle of the night to head to LA. Not only did he bail, but he also took with him the team’s best players. That was certainly enough to anger Sooners fans.
So, they’ll take any chance possible to troll their former leader, especially since they didn’t have much to cheer for in this year’s 6-6 campaign. Oklahoma fans got the last laugh with USC’s latest collapse, but at least Lincoln Riley has the program trending in the right direction.