After abrupt OU exit, Alex Grinch focused on fixing USC's defense

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If Alex Grinch’s Oklahoma defense had been able to make a few more stops, he might not be the new coordinator at Southern California under ex-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley.

Oklahoma couldn’t hold onto a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State, allowing 14 points in the fourth quarter and losing 37-33 on Nov. 27. That defeat created the opening that allowed the Trojans to lure Riley away less than 24 hours later.

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The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Grinch, who went from lamenting a rivalry loss he is "still not over" to expressing his delight at teaming up with Riley once again.

"To be under elite leadership at elite institutions, now all of a sudden that’s an opportunity that you don’t want to pass up," Grinch said. "So having the opportunity to work for coach Riley at the University of Oklahoma, now another tremendous opportunity at another elite place in USC, so very excited to do it."

For all the focus on Riley’s high-scoring offense, especially now that he has quarterback Caleb Williams again after a dynamic freshman season working together at Oklahoma, Grinch’s efforts to address a flailing defense should have a bigger say on whether the Trojans return to their traditional spot in the top echelon of college football.

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25:  Oklahoma Sooners Campus during the Oklahoma Sooners game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 25, 2017 at Gaylord Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. (Photo by Richard Rowe/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

USC was tied for 103rd nationally in points allowed, giving up at least 31 in eight