The coaching carousel has been crazy already in college football, and we are less than a third of the way through November. With major jobs like LSU, Florida, and Penn State already open, there’s a good chance that things get crazier, too, as coaches from other top programs leave to fill positions at the top schools in the nation.
Over the past week, rumors have started to circulate that USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley may be one of the coaches who choose to pick up and leave Los Angeles, potentially moving to the southeast and setting up shop in the SEC.
On Friday night, after the Trojans’ 38-17 win over the Northwestern Wildcats, Riley poured some cold water on those rumors.
“You guys know what I sacrificed to be here,” Riley said. “I’m where I need to be.”
Before taking over at USC, Riley had a successful program running with the Oklahoma Sooners, going 55-10 in his five years at Norman and making it to the College Football Playoff. However, he left that situation to take over for the Trojans, where he has struggled to find the same success. In his four years at USC, Riley has a 33-16 record, and is yet to compete for a national championship or even come close to finding the same success.
That still could turn around, and assuming Riley stays in Southern California, there is a path forward for this USC team, considering how well they recruit, to get back on top of the college landscape. If you are to take Riley at his word, then he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley shuts down rumors that he could leave USC Trojans after 2025 season
Reporting by Zachary Neel, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
