Lincoln Riley objects to the reporter's question: “There is no one who takes more responsibility than me.”

In what seems to be becoming a common theme USCa close game went against them. Penn State came from behind to win in extra time and will celebrate with great celebration on the return journey across the country. Unfortunately for Lincoln Rileyanother loss that he feels the Trojans are on the verge of pulling through.

After the game, a reporter asked Riley if responsibility for those losses rested with him. Riley didn't appreciate the question and made that clear in the first part of his answer. The head coach took responsibility for coming up short on several occasions, adding that he always did.

“It’s always up to me,” Riley said. “When have I ever taken responsibility? I always take it. I am the head coach. It's my job. Believe me, there is no one who takes more responsibility than me. So I don’t know where this question comes from.”

USC had a two-touchdown lead at halftime and held Penn State to just six points. At the start of the second half the script changed James Franklin ensured that his team equalized at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Eventually it went to overtime when USC failed to make a field goal and Penn State put one through the uprights to win.

Three losses for Riley this season resulted in an average of 4.3 points, a total of 13. Along the way Michigan and last Saturday at Minnesota were the first two. Penn State was the first to beat USC in Los Angeles.

There is undoubtedly a tough schedule ahead of us. But Riley expanded on his first quote, taking the blame for his failure to get USC over the hump in Year 3.

“The reality is we played the toughest squad in the country in the first six games, we had a chance to win all six games,” Riley said. “And that's hard to do…I have to do a better job. Our coaches, our players, because we do too many good things to put ourselves in situations where we can be ahead and win, but we have to get paid for it. We have to be able to finish and in the end everything falls on my shoulders and that’s why they call me head coach.”