As we have written, USC’s loss to Oregon on Saturday was far more than just a loss. Plain and simple, this was a test that Lincoln Riley had to pass, and he did not.
The day was not any better for Riley’s former employer, however. Led by Brent Venables, Riley’s replacement at Oklahoma, the Sooners were demolished 41-13 by Georgia on the road, their second loss before the end of September.
In the nearly five years since Riley stunningly departed Norman for Los Angeles, USC and Oklahoma fans have constantly argued over which program is better set up for the future. The reality, however, is that right now, both fan bases are absolutely miserable.
Both Riley at USC and Venables at Oklahoma have massively underachieved over the past five years. Somehow,
it feels as though both sides found a way to lose the Riley-Oklahoma breakup.
Ironically, the two program seem to have the exact opposite issue. Riley has continuously failed to produce even a decent defense at USC, while Venables has had the same problem on offense in Norman.
After five years, it feels as though the USC-Oklahoma beef has finally reached a conclusion. It seems as though both sides have reached a state of acceptance that things have not worked out, and it is time to hit the reset button.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: After years of smack talk, USC and Oklahoma fans can bond over misery
