USC Football Utilizes Bye Week for Recovery and Recruitment Focus

The USC Trojans are using their bye week to regroup following a narrow 34-32 loss to Illinois. Head coach Lincoln Riley highlighted the need for improvement, especially in the secondary, where blown coverages and missed tackles have hurt the team defensively. The bye week offers an opportunity to rest, scout high school recruits, and address mental toughness issues, with Riley emphasizing learning from the recent loss rather than disregarding it. Despite defensive struggles, USC's offense has been strong, led by quarterback Jayden Maiava, who ranks second nationally in passing yards, and receiver Makai Lemon, who leads the FBS in receiving yards. The team faces a challenging schedule ahead, including a home game against Michigan, making the adjustments during the bye crucial for their success. Overall, the week off is viewed as a pivotal moment for USC to reverse recent setbacks and build momentum moving forward.