"It just didn’t make sense to have it": USC HC Lincoln Riley explains the decision to close practice to media for the rest of the season 

Following the impressive Week 9 win over Rutgers, Lincoln Riley made a notable adjustment to USC’s weekly routine. The team’s practices will now be closed to the media for the remainder of the 2024 season, a decision Riley explained during his Tuesday press conference.

He explained that the team decided to alter its approach ahead of the Scarlet Knights game. He noted that the coaching staff was pleased with the results, prompting the decision to make the change permanent and close practices to reporters for the rest of the season.

“We evaluated some things last week,” Riley said. “We’ve made some changes to the way that we’re handling pre-practice, just with the short week and we liked how our team handled it, responded to it. With that, we’re continuing forward with a lot of the things we did last week, and it just didn’t make sense to have it, honestly.”

Lincoln Riley says adversity has made USC stronger

The 2024 college football season hasn’t gone as anticipated for USC. The Trojans were looking to bounce back from the disappointment experienced in their final season in the Pac-12 in the Big Ten this season. However, they’ve encountered a new series of challenges in the league.

Having lost four games by one score or less this season, USC's win against Rutgers in Week 9 was a strong rebound following the latest loss to Maryland. However, Riley emphasized the importance of staying focused on the task ahead and not lingering on past challenges.

“Staying the course,” Riley said. “I think when you have adversity, it tests your resolve, and it tests how committed you are to the process and the things you do. And going through these last few weeks has made me even more sure of where I’m at and what we’re doing.”

This weekend, Lincoln Riley and his team are set to face a Washington team that has also had an inconsistent season in their first Big Ten year. The Huskies boast a 4-4 record, similar to the Trojans, and will be looking to move closer to bowl eligibility on Saturday.

The Trojans head into an off week afterward, before returning to play Nebraska, UCLA and Notre Dame in the remainder of the regular season.