47-24.
A friend and former client who is very well connected to USC football at a very high level (the kind of connection that only is developed through huge donations) told me earlier this week that USC is “actively recruiting” more than a dozen players who are NOT in the transfer portal. Of course, that is totally against the NCAA rules, but Riley doesn’t care one whit about that. NIL has been a godsend for USC and Riley has had another year to learn how to exploit it.
Right after the interception by Utah, my friend texted me that by next week the number of players contacted probably will double. Riley has been telling the major booster/donors for weeks that they need to strengthen their OL and doing it with HS recruits takes too long. Presumably most of the active players they are surreptitiously recruiting now are OL. But, a lot of defensive players will likely be added after tonight’s performance.
It’s really not that hard. This is my speculation on how they are doing it, but I think it’s well-founded: You are a school in sunny LA with a thriving entertainment industry, the headquarters of every major talent agency in the country, and USC also is the home of the Stephen Spielberg film school. An agent approaches a top OL at, for example, Michigan or Minnesota about a possible NIL deal. At some point, the agent casually proclaims that it’s really too bad the player doesn’t play for USC because the NIL money and opportunities would be five or ten times greater. The hook is set.
After Spring practice ended, Riley told people that the Fall roster would be very different than the Spring roster. I believe he then signed 16 transfers from the portal. If anyone thinks he did that without tampering and breaking the rules, my friend has a bridge he would love to sell you.
I don’t know if he will exceed 16 this year, but don’t be surprised to see some first team Big 10 or Big 12 OL enter the portal after the bowl games and quickly commit to USC.
