USC came into this college football season with high hopes of not just competing for a Big Ten title, but finally reaching the College Football Playoff under head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans got off to a hot start, winning six of their first seven games to improve to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. But their 41-27 loss to Oregon at the Coliseum still lingers throughout LA as it remains the only game this season that USC was ever truly tested against a ranked opponent.
Riley's job security has again come into focus. USC president Beong-Soo Kim recently declined to say whether the university could afford to fire Riley and pay his reported $70 million buyout, saying, "We're not thinking about that. We are laser-focused on the next game, and then the game after that." More news: Kirk Herbstreit Takes Aim at Notre Dame Ahead of BYU Game Riley was one of the most coveted coaches in the country after what he did at Oklahoma, winning four straight Big 12 championships and leading the Sooners to three straight CFP appearances.
He also coached Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. USC hired him in 2021 to a massive 10-year, $110 million deal as a result. But five years later, he still hasn't reached the CFP with the Trojans and has put together just one double-digit win season.
With the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2026, this year was supposed to be different. But the loss to Oregon has again raised questions about Riley's future, especially since that was a game USC had a chance to win before the Ducks pulled away late. USC responded with a narrow 25-21 victory over Washington before securing an important 31-23 road win at Penn State last weekend.
But the Trojans still have major tests ahead, including next Saturday night in Wisconsin, followed by games against Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland, and UCLA. More news: Nick Saban Shares Strong Take on College Football Playoff Expansion More news: Arch Manning Is Still Helping Texas in One Key Area The Trojans' recent wins have quieted some of the noise, but there's no denying that Riley still hasn't lived up to the massive expectations that followed him from Oklahoma. With their playoff hopes still alive, the pressure is on USC to prove it can compete with the nation's best teams.
If the team misses the playoffs again, even a monster $70 million buyout might not protect Riley's future with the program.
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