Lincoln Riley Makes Desperate Clay Helton Plea After HC Confirms Quadruple Injury Blow

USC, at the moment, is giving it back to all the doubters about Lincoln Riley’s testing 4th season. Coming off a gallant win against Missouri State, the Trojans will be facing an opponent with a unique link to the program. Former USC and current Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton will return home to a heated atmosphere. Lincoln Riley, however, has a loud and clear message for fans.

Helton is coming back to the Los Angeles Memorial Stadium for the first time since he was fired as USC’s head coach in 2021. After a series of underperforming seasons at the helm and failing to restore USC’s national glory, Helton left in 2021 after 2 games. Now that he returns as an opponent, Riley urged fans to ensure the vibe doesn’t become unruly.

Riley told the press recently that he wanted fans to “react with a lot of appreciation” when Helton steps foot in his former home. “I want him to know he’s appreciated by this place and always will be,” he said. Riley also claimed that Helton was in charge of things when “he didn’t have all the advantages that the outside world thought USC had.”

Lincoln Riley says he hopes USC fans “react with a lot of appreciation” for Clay Helton on Saturday in his return to the Coliseum.

“I want him to know he’s appreciated by this place and always will be,” Riley said.

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 5, 2025

Though USC is the projected winner of this Week 2 matchup, Riley will be losing a few players to injury. WR Prince Strachan, CB Alex Graham, and kicker Caden Chittenden are ruled out, while RB Bryan Jackson’s status is deemed ‘doubtful’, as of now. The Georgia Southern game is a must-win for Lincoln Riley, given the fragility of his job.

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