Lincoln Riley Linked to Potential Big 12 Move as Pressure Builds at USC

Just when it looked like things were about to turn around for Lincoln Riley, USC suffered another brutal defeat. The Trojans opened 4-0, then lost 41-27 at home to Oregon. They then steadied themselves with two straight Big Ten wins over Washington and at Penn State, before falling flat once again, losing at Wisconsin on Saturday.

The Badgers are now 5-2 and 3-1 against conference opponents, while USC has dropped to 6-2 and 3-2 in Big Ten play. With No. 2 Ohio State coming to town in a few days, Riley's margin for error is shrinking. The team came into this season with the top-ranked recruiting class in the country and firmly in the conversation to make the College Football Playoff, something the Trojans still haven't done in the Riley era.

A loss to the Buckeyes would put an end to any hopes of still making the CFP, and potentially Riley's tenure as head coach. On Tuesday, Dan Patrick emphasized that this could be the biggest game of Riley's career, and floated the idea that he could leave after this season for one Big 12 program, the TCU Horned Frogs. "It feels like it's a foregone conclusion at USC that Lincoln Riley will not be back.

You've got Ohio State coming up this weekend. Now you host Ohio State. [But] this might be the biggest game of his career," Patrick said. "I wonder if Lincoln Riley is going to want to go to a place that doesn't have the spotlight that USC is having.

"I spoke to somebody in the know yesterday, and I said, 'Could you see Lincoln Riley going to Baylor?' He said, 'No, absolutely not.' He goes, 'TCU, I could see Lincoln Riley going to TCU,'" Patrick added. "I don't know what TCU is this year; Sonny Dykes is still there at TCU. But if that is open, is there a mutual parting there?

I've said this before: I don't know if Lincoln Riley has ever felt comfortable there in Southern California. I know he got paid to be comfortable. But I was told there was some real consternation about whether he really wants to coach this season." More news: Arch Manning Predicted to Leave Texas for SEC Rival After Bold Claim TCU is currently 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play under head coach Sonny Dykes.