Battle for Los Angeles: Temperature gauge reading very differently for USC, UCLA with college football season mere days away

The temperature gauge of competitiveness for USC and UCLA in the USC-UCLA college football rivalry remains quite different, despite the sun shining almost every day in the city of Los Angeles. UCLA has recently managed to outperform USC in the rivalry, largely due to the influence of new coach Bob Chesney. Chesney, a 49-year-old with a positive attitude and a track record of success at small schools, has convinced both UCLA's administration and players of his ability to replicate his success on the West Coast.

In contrast, USC's coach Lincoln Riley, who was brought in from Oklahoma, seems to be operating under a cloud of fragility and careful management of the media. This comes after four years without a College Football Playoff appearance, which was not the expectation or plan when he arrived. The city of Los Angeles, home to both USC and UCLA, is a microcosm of the shifting perceptions in the coaching business over the past five years.

While USC brought in a high-profile coach with a strong resume, UCLA's choice of a coach with less traditional experience may seem surprising at first, but it reflects a changing landscape where coaches from less conventional backgrounds have the opportunity to make a significant impact.