Lincoln Riley took over as the head coach of the USC Trojans in the 2022 season with high expectations. His first season showed promise, as USC finished the regular season with just two losses before falling to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. Given his success at Oklahoma—where he led one of the nation’s top offenses and finished with the highest winning percentage in program history—fans hoped Riley would restore USC’s former dominance.
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In his introductory press conference, Riley spoke about the prestige of USC football and his excitement for coaching in Los Angeles. However, after a solid start, the past two seasons have raised doubts. In 2023, USC struggled in the Pac-12, finishing with an 8-5 record. Things worsened in 2024, their first season in the Big Ten, where they posted a disappointing 7-6 record.
Now, Riley’s tenure is under scrutiny. Analysts, including Tom Hannifan on the “College Football Addiction” podcast, have labeled him as one of the most overrated coaches in the game. Hannifan argued that while Riley has produced Heisman-winning quarterbacks, he has failed to translate that success into championship-caliber results. He even suggested that Riley could be out of USC within a year or two.
A major issue has been USC’s defense, which struggled throughout the 2024 season. The Trojans allowed 24.1 points per game (46th nationally) and 377.1 total yards per game (65th). Defensive lapses cost them critical games, including a late collapse against Michigan and a last-minute touchdown by Penn State that forced overtime. Poor defensive play, combined with key injuries and inconsistent offensive execution, left USC unable to close out tight games.
Quarterback play has also been a concern. Jayden Maiava stepped in last season after Miller Moss struggled, and while he showed promise, USC still lost to Notre Dame in one of his starts. Now, Riley faces a key decision at QB, as USC has landed a top recruit in Husan Longstreet, a five-star prospect who threw for 4,724 yards in high school. Whether Riley sticks with Maiava or hands the offense to Longstreet remains to be seen.
Riley is under immense pressure to turn things around, but his massive contract complicates the situation. With a reported $110 million deal and a $90 million buyout clause, firing him would be costly. However, if USC continues to underperform, calls for change will only grow louder. The question remains: Can Riley still lead the Trojans back to national prominence, or is USC stuck in a cycle of mediocrity?