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Lincoln Riley was already in a rather bad mood moments after his USC team blew a 4th-quarter lead and lost 24-17 at Minnesota to suffer its 2nd loss in 3 weeks.
Then things got a little testy for the head coach of the 11th-ranked Trojans when a reporter asked senior defensive end Jamil Muhammad in the postgame press conference if he thought Minnesota reached the end zone on its final touchdown. That’s when Riley reached his boiling point.
“Nah, don’t ask him that,” said Riley.
A reporter asked USC’s Jamil Muhammad postgame if he thought Minnesota got into the end zone on their final TD.
Lincoln Riley interjected. “Nah, don’t ask him that.”
“Who cares what he says on that? Like what, player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question.” pic.twitter.com/6lLaGioDfT
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 6, 2024
The reporter was referring to the game-winning, 1-yard touchdown run by Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer with 56 seconds left that broke a 17-17 tie.
USC dropped to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten play, which was hard enough for Riley to take. But that particular question by the reporter on the game-deciding touchdown really riled up Riley, who felt the need to protect his player at that moment or just felt the question was more appropriate for the head coach.
“Who cares what he says on that? Like, what, player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question,” said Riley.
Things won’t get any easier for Riley and the Trojans next Saturday in Week 7, as USC heads home to face No. 7 Penn State.