With the USC football team losing to the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, 24-7, there is no denying that there is a conversation surrounding the job security of head coach Lincoln Riley. While some fans could be demanding that USC football make a change from Riley, this college football insider could be signaling that the coach could trigger a move.
The latest from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic comes after the news of Dave Aranda being fired by the Baylor Bears, opening a big college football gig. Feldman would have Riley as the “biggest wild card in this season.” Feldman would even say that if Riley were to be interested in the job, the Trojans “would welcome a move,” adding that he's a Texas native.
“The 43-year-old has a sterling reputation as an offensive coach and for working with QBs. But his five-year run at USC has been so underwhelming, it’s worth asking if he’d like to re-shuffle the deck. We’re pretty confident USC brass would welcome a move like this if Riley is intrigued, especially after the Trojans got mauled this weekend at Wisconsin, where his team was held to minus 17 rushing yards and seven points — fewest ever by a Riley-coached team.”
More on the USC football team this season with Lincoln Riley
Despite the USC football program being 6-2 on the season, Feldman claims that the Trojans “hasn't beaten anything close to a ranked team this season.” With some key games left, Feldman says that aside from Riley winning three of the final four games, “it feels like a stretch that he’ll be able to do enough to convince” the brass at USC that he's the guy.
Article Continues Below“The Trojans have games left against Ohio State, at Indiana, a dreadful Maryland team and at UCLA,” Feldman wrote. “His buyout with USC is massive, somewhere around $70 million. Would he be tempted to move back to Texas — and the Big 12?”
Riley leads the Trojans against Ohio State on Saturday, as an unranked team beating the Buckeyes could give the fanbase and the school some confidence, though some may believe his exit is inevitable.