It's been a rough decade for USC football fans. Their beloved Trojans -- winners of nine national championships -- have missed every single college football playoff since 2014, and have finished in the top ten nationally just once in the past ten years. But now, with 39-year-old Lincoln Riley at the helm, there's a growing sense of optimism. The L.A. Times' Ryan Kartje takes us inside the mind of one of college football's most exciting and creative young coaches, and explains why Riley has inspired a new sense of belief among USC faithful. Plus, a bizarre standoff between USC and its own fans over NIL deals.

Follow Ryan Kartje's USC Football coverage:

https://www.latimes.com/people/ryan-kartje

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