Lincoln Riley isn’t about sending messages when it comes to USC’s season-opening win over LSU. However, he did get one comment in that had to feel pretty nice after the night the Trojans had in Las Vegas.

Sunday evening, USC had the spotlight in primetime with a marquee matchup against LSU out of the SEC. That game came down to the wire with the Trojans scoring a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.

Asked about a message he wanted to send; Riley got in a crack to the rest of his new conference:

“That was some pretty good Big Ten football today,” said Riley with a smile and a chuckle.

The head coach went on to say he’s not in it for delivering messages to the voices outside his locker room. Instead, his message is simply that he really likes his own team.

“I mean, I don’t know. We’re just not into for messages, man. My message is I really like my team,” Riley explained. “I like our team, I like our defense, I like our coaches, I like our offense, I like our special teams, I like the vibe of this team. We’ve got a long, long, long ways to go but I’m sure glad I’m coaching these guys.”

USC can come out of Week 1 with its head held high. Miller Moss outplayed LSU starter Garrett Nussmeier, the overhauled Trojan defense outplayed LSU’s defense and Riley pushed all the right buttons in a crucial game in the spotlight.

That win can alter USC’s trajectory in 2024 if the Trojans follow it up with some bright moments early in the B1G schedule. We’ll find out if the team is indeed prepared for the jump from the Pac-12 right around the corner, including a September trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan.