USC Trojans Lincoln Riley in Favor of College Football Adopting Growing NFL Trend

Joint practices in training camp have become the new norm across the NFL. In many ways it has replaced preseason games for starters. USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley advocated for them to become a part of the college game.

Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Joint practices have become a staple of NFL training camps. It provides teams an opportunity to go head-to-head in an intense but controlled environment.

They compete in one-on-ones and full team periods over the course of multiple practices. And in many ways, it has replaced preseason games. Now, there are still plenty of teams that will still play the starters in the game, but it does serve as an alternative solution to prepare for the upcoming season. 

Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Former USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams played the entire first half of the Chicago Bears preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. This comes two weeks after Bears coach Ben Johnson chose not to play Williams in the preseason opener because of the reps he got during the week in joint practices. 

Adopting Joint Practices in College Football 

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

USC coach Lincoln Riley has been an advocate for the college game to adopt this new norm of NFL training camps. 

“I would be a big proponent of the joint practices. You can do it regionally,” Riley said. “It’ll be minimal travel. I’ve always thought it made too much sense. Each team ought to be able to do it one time. You get to compete against somebody else. Helps you evaluate your roster a little bit. 

“I understand not doing the preseason games and all that. We’re built a little bit different. The joint practices, that would be way too easy to do. It would be awesome just for your guys to get some experience because the first game counts, it’s real. You would love to be able to have a little bit of competition before that.”

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While USC wouldn’t practice against crosstown rival UCLA, there are plenty of Power 4 schools on the West Coast that USC no longer plays because of conference realignment, most notably programs such as Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, Washington State and Utah. And then there's schools such as San Diego State, San Jose State, Fresno State and Boise State that are in close proximity.

College Football Week One

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first down catch during the second half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

You never want to take any opponent lightly, but the Trojans will face Missouri State on Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Coliseum, certainly a step down from opening the season against LSU in Las Vegas, as they did a year ago. 

LSU will have another tough opener when they head to Clemson in a top-10 showdown. Those two teams will end the day, but the day will get started with Texas traveling to Columbus to face the Ohio State in a top-3 matchup. 

Programs will have typically have two scrimmages during fall camp, but the opportunity to face another school before squaring off against another college football playoff contender could have been very beneficial. 

Position Battles 

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC has several positions battles that Riley and his staff have been sorting out during camp, some more urgent than others. 

Offensive lineman DJ Wingfield was projected to start at guard after transferring from Purdue in the winter portal window, but his lawsuit against the NCAA failed and he was denied a fifth year of eligibility. 

Riley has expressed position flexibility with guys such as offensive tackles Tobias Raymond and Justin Tauanuu and center J’Onre Reed. Sophomore Micah Bañuelos will factor into the competition.