Ann Arbor, Michigan.- Before Jim Harbaugh returned Michigan to a national power, the Ann Arbor, Mich., coach was nearly kicked to the curb. Hiring lagged. Fans called for his firing.
But Michigan stuck with Harbaugh and won the national championship in 2023.
As USC coach Lincoln Riley saw it, he was the kind of commitment to rebuilding a great program from scratch. Like Harbaugh, he didn’t plan on letting outside pressure derail his USC career.
“Once Jim got there, they had their ups and downs,” Riley said. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, they can’t go back,’ and they stayed in their ways. What I respected most about them is that they stayed very committed and engaged in their process and ignored everyone who thought they deserved an opinion.”
The USC coach is at a crucial point in his rebuilding process, torn between building and struggling with his Trojans trailing 2-0. A big measuring stick looms Saturday when USC opens its Big 10 slate against a program whose success Riley hopes to follow.
Michigan looks vulnerable after an early loss to Texas. But Riley made clear how much respect he has for the defending champions. He has no intention of checking back.
“Everyone wants to write a story for everyone after a few games of the season, and it’s a long season,” Riley said. “This is a good football team that we respect a lot. If we have anything less, it’s on us.”
Here’s what to watch when No. 11 USC heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on No. 18 Michigan in a game on CBS (Channel 2, Paramount+) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
