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USC’s Lincoln Riley takes different tack regarding blowup with Ohio State AD
USC coach Lincoln Riley says his heated exchange with Ohio State athletics director Ross Bjork after Saturday’s game was quickly resolved and is now a non-issue. His comments followed a 30-18 upset win over the then-No. 2 Buckeyes and an on-field confrontation that drew attention.
Riley said the argument happened amid a crowded exit from the field, as Ohio State staff sought to help injured defensive end Eddrick Houston leave. A staff member gestured to calm the situation, and Riley said he and Bjork made peace in the tunnel. He also explained that he prepared a postgame statement affirming he was the right person for the USC job after spending about 30 minutes waiting for the team to gather.
In short
- Riley says the argument with Ross Bjork was quickly settled.
- USC beat the then-No. 2 Buckeyes 30-18.
- He drafted his postgame remarks during a long wait.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Riley’s account supports treating the exchange as a brief misunderstanding in a crowded, emotional post-match scene, with staff trying to assist an injured player. He says he and Bjork resolved it soon afterwards, suggesting the incident need not be allowed to overshadow the game or their working relationship.
The case against
A public confrontation between a coach and an athletics director can reasonably attract scrutiny, even if it is later described as resolved. The circumstances and the differing perspectives of those present may remain unclear, so observers could see Riley’s account as incomplete and consider the incident worth examining rather than dismissing as a non-issue.