As Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans face off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 1, they will derive their momentum from last year’s win. November 16, 2024, Riley’s boys crushed Nebraska, 28-20. As the Cornhuskers’ head coach keeps Riley and his boys on high alert, Riley keeps his locker room message positive. USC now stands at 5-2, while Nebraska stands at 6-2. However, Riley stays out of the line of fire. 

On the October 27th episode of the USC Athletics podcast, Riley only had positive things to say about Rhule’s program. “Yeah, I think they’ve continued to improve, which is, you know, I think no surprise for those that have, you know, followed them, lately with coach Rhule being there and then obviously his career, he’s had a really strong history of being able to elevate these programs.”

Rhule’s culture-first approach has restored competitiveness to a program that had perished in mediocrity. In Lincoln, the Nebraska head coach has hit a 17-15 record over three seasons. Not just in Lincoln. Rhule’s first season in Temple was rock bottom, 2–10, the worst they had been since 2006. But the following year, the tide turned. The Owls marched into SEC country, stunned Vanderbilt to open the season, and later took down No. 21 East Carolina for their first ranked win in 16 years. It’s been eventful. 

Riley then went down memory lane to recap their 2024 face-off. “So, you know, we had a good battle with them here last year. I think they’re a different team this year, certainly.” USC took down Nebraska in last year’s game, their first regular-season matchup since 2007. Talking about Rhule and co.’s 2025 records? 

Nebraska’s season couldn’t have started with more fireworks. In front of a roaring Memorial Stadium crowd, the Cornhuskers dismantled Akron 68-0, their first shutout since the 2009 Holiday Bowl. The offensive explosion was just as historic, marking the first time Nebraska topped 60 points in a game since 2012 and their biggest scoring outburst in over a decade. This season witnessed Rhule’s quarterback, Dylan Raiola, enter the Huskers’ top 10 for career passing yards, and he now has 4,728 yards.

So, Riley did not tap into a ‘we are stronger mindset.’ Instead, they held their opponents for this weekend on the pedestal, considering them a tough nut to crack. The Nebraska offense has racked up 3,209 yards and an average of 401.1 yards per game.

On the other hand, the Trojans are at No.1 with 3,710 total yards and 530 yards/ game. Yet then, Riley said, “It’ll be a good challenge. The challenge is going into that place at night.” But Rhule has set the competitive tone. 

Matt Rhule did not mince his words for Lincoln Riley and USC

With Nebraska up 21-6 and all the momentum on its side, Northwestern tried to spark life with a short pass. The catch turned messy, a bobble, a backpedal, and a clear stop short of the first-down marker. Initially, the spot looked right, about a yard shy. But somehow, one official nudged the ball two yards forward and signaled first down.

The stands filled with “Refs you s- – -” chants. Rhule kept Riley and his boys on high alert during his latest interview. “I’m sitting at the couch after the game. My daughter’s like, did you hear the chant? My youngest one, the 10-year-old, you know, she’s like, did you hear the chant? And they were saying refs. I’m not saying that’s okay. But it’s like, hey, let’s get past. We’re Nebraska, nice, I get all that. But like, let’s have a real game day environment.”

Can Rhule’s boys walk the walk? Since joining the Big Ten last season, USC has won just one road game outside California. The Trojans have proven they can win the battle in the trenches, but the past two weeks have told very different stories. They owned the line of scrimmage against Michigan in Week 7, only to have Notre Dame flip the script a week later. For the offensive line, Week 8 marked their first real stumble of the season, though help is on the way, with starters Elijah Paige and Kilian O’Connor expected back soon.

But what makes Matt Rhule keep Lincoln Riley and co. on the edge? The Cornhuskers fell prey to schedule discrimination once more. After their second bye of the season, the Trojans are rested, ranked, and refocused. Sitting at No. 23 in the AP Poll, Lincoln Riley’s squad has used the downtime to get healthy and prep for a Nebraska defense that’s made a habit of shutting down opposing quarterbacks.

Rhule’s reaction? Sam McKewon reported, “Nebraska coach Matt Rhule has a high amount of respect for Lincoln Riley, notes, for the second year in a row, Riley gets 14 days to prepare for NU’s D.”

“Thanks guys,” he says to the Big Ten tongue in cheek. It’s anyone’s war to win. Let’s see who writes the next chapter of this rivalry.