As we have written, USC’s loss to Oregon on Saturday was far more than just a loss. Plain and simple, this was a test that Lincoln Riley had to pass, and he did not.
So what does Riley’s future hold? On Monday, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that, despite his massive buyout, Riley is squarely on the hot seat at USC.
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“Industry sources have noted to 247Sports since Saturday that despite a buyout that’s believed to be about $70 million, there’s a real chance that the Trojans could part ways with Riley, who’s in his fifth season at USC, depending on how the team performs the rest of the year,” Zenitz wrote.
“Simply put, people associated with USC expect for the Trojans to be competing for national championships, especially factoring in the level of financial support for Riley and the football program.
“Riley, however, has fallen well short of that. The three years prior to this season, he averaged five losses per season.
“Yes, $70 million is more than 99% of schools will ever pay for a buyout. However, as industry sources have said in recent days, it’s worth noting that USC is a private institution with some deep-pocketed supporters.”
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The unfortunate reality is that after Oregon, it is difficult to envision a future where Riley is able to redeem himself as the Trojans’ head coach. At this point, it feels like a matter of when, not if, USC decides to make a change.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: National writer says Lincoln Riley is squarely on the hot seat at USC
