With the USC football team recording a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions on the road on Saturday, 31-23, all eyes are on head coach Lincoln Riley to see if he can lead the team to make some noise in the College Football Playoff (CFP). While the USC football team has been counted out with Riley, the team has been enjoying a nice start at 6-1, though his job security still isn't the safest.
In the latest column from college football insider Bruce Feldman, he discusses different head coaches around the league and how hot the seat is for them. When it comes to Riley, he admitted it was a “complicated” situation at 6-1, but that his seat is still “hot” regarding how the Trojans can close out the season.
“The Trojans have an offense that is good enough to make the Playoff. They’re dangerous. Their top-ranked freshman class has been as advertised, especially wideout Trent Mosley and DE Luke Wafle,” Feldman wrote.
More on USC football's Lincoln Riley and his buyout
Feldman would continue talking about the USC football team, saying that defensive coordinator Gary Patterson “has struggled mightily,” ranking 106th in the nation in yards per play, having been 65th last season. The lone loss to the Oregon Ducks, where backup Dylan Raiola thrashed the Trojans, was a sight for sore eyes, but there is still a “very manageable path to the CFP.”
Feldman discusses that if USC can beat Wisconsin this weekend and then beat an Ohio State team that likely won't have Julian Sayin, the narrative would change. Still, even despite the roughly $70 million buyout Riley has, Trojans “folks are skeptical that he's the guy.”
Article Continues Below“If Riley can knock off either OSU or Indiana, that would be a big step for him and his program. Bob Chesney turning the Bruins into a Playoff contender might’ve afforded Riley another crack at winning over some skeptics,” Feldman wrote.
It remains to be seen how Riley and the USC football team close out the season and what the outlook in the CFP will be, which could seal the coach's fate.