This week marked Big Ten media days in Las Vegas. Over the past three days, coaches and players from every program in the conference spoke to the media, in addition to Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti.
On Thursday afternoon, after 16 other head coach gave press conferences, it was finally USC head coach Lincoln Riley’s turn. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say.
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On quarterback Jayden Maiava
“He started 4 games last year, against really good defenses,” Riley said. “He made some huge, unbelievable plays. His arm talent and decisiveness he plays with is really unique. He can be really special.”
On safety Kamari Ramsey
“He’s another guy that we’ve really challenged to step up and be a leader vocally,” Riley said.
On offensive lineman DJ Wingfield’s eligibility battle
“We have no specific updates on DJ right now,” Riley said. “The process is ongoing right now. I wish I could comment a little bit more, but we’ve got to let that play out.”
On the future of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry
“My very first thought [when hired as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma] was I get to coach OU-Texas,” Riley said. “When I decided to take USC job, my first thought was I get to coach USC-Notre Dame. Do I want to play the game? Hell, yeah. I’m hopeful we can get to the point where it makes sense. The two schools are in radically different situations, one in a conference.”
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On former USC head coach Pete Carroll’s eligibility for the College Football Hall of Fame
“Hard to imagine a guy that’s had an impact like coach Carroll had on college football,” Riley said. “It’s a little difficult for me, and I think a lot of my colleagues, to imagine a hall of fame that exists without him.”
On his biggest regret at USC thus far
“We went heavy in the portal in year two, trying to capitalize on that, which was probably the toughest decision, the one we went back and forth on the most,” Riley said. “If you asked me my biggest regret up to this point, that’s probably it.”
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: What USC’s Lincoln Riley said at Big Ten football media days presser
