We keep saying it whenever something less than great happens to USC football: We’re not going to ignore the pain or the disappointment. We’re not going to pretend that a negative development really doesn’t matter.

Dylan Raiola choosing Georgia over USC is a loss for Lincoln Riley. The Trojans’ head coach courted the No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class and didn’t land him. That’s a loss, and no one needs to pretend it isn’t.

However, there are degrees of defeat. There are levels of severity attached to recruiting disappointments. This is not the worst of the worst. We can also be realistic in saying that.

Josh Conerly was a worse and more disappointing recruiting outcome than this. Why? USC needed offensive line help last year more than USC needs quarterback help. What also reduces the significance of Raiola’s choice — even though it’s still a defeat for USC — is that he won’t play at either Ohio State or Nebraska, two future conference opponents for the Trojans in the Big Ten.

This could have been worse.

At any rate, let’s see what other college football analysts and writers, in addition to other high school prospects, are saying about this big news story:

MORE ABOUT GEORGIA HELPING ITSELF THAN USC BEING HURT (OR ANYTHING ELSE)

EYE-OPENING QUOTE

FILM

RAIOLA VS ARCH MANNING

GEORGIA WILL BE HARD TO DISPLACE

STAPLES AND WASSERMAN

RECRUITING DOMINO EFFECT?

HOW KIRBY CLOSED THE SALE

OHIO STATE-GEORGIA PLAYOFF BATTLE WOULD BE SOMETHING

CORNHUSKERS WIRE REACTS

UGA WIRE REACTS

Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart gives a fist pump following the Peach Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Georgia beat Ohio State 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Ncaa Football Peach Bowl Ohio State At Georgia

Here is UGA Wire’s story on Dylan Raiola’s commitment to the Dawgs.

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire