Lincoln Riley says he wants to stay at USC as losses put season under pressure
The Trojans coach reaffirmed his commitment after a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin left USC 6-2 and facing a demanding run of games.
Lincoln Riley said after USC practice on October 27 in Los Angeles that he wants to remain the Trojans’ coach, addressing questions about his future after a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin left the team 6-2. With Ohio State due to visit on Saturday, his comments put his stated commitment alongside the results that have intensified scrutiny of USC’s season.
‘This is where I want to be. This is the right place for me. I’m the right person to be here,’ Riley said, according to ESPN. He said he had had opportunities to leave, without giving details. CBS Sports also reported Riley saying he loved USC and that his belief in the program had not changed.
Why USC’s results have raised questions about Riley
USC entered the week with two losses, to Oregon in Week 4 and Wisconsin on the preceding Saturday. ESPN reported that the seven points against Wisconsin were the lowest offensive output by any team coached by Riley. CBS Sports said the Trojans had no wins over ranked opponents at that point.
Riley is in his fifth season at USC. The team has yet to reach the College Football Playoff or win a conference title under him, ESPN reported. CBS Sports noted that USC won 11 games in his first season but had not reached double figures in a season since. Those results help explain why a 6-2 record has brought questions about the direction of the program.
ESPN reported that USC secured the country’s No. 1 recruiting class this year and opened a new facility valued at $200 million. The investments have raised expectations for a team whose results have yet to deliver the postseason achievements Riley is seeking. Offensive lineman Elijah Paige backed his coach, saying on October 27 that nobody wanted USC to win more than Riley.
Riley’s relationship with USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen
Asked about athletic director Jennifer Cohen, Riley described their relationship as ‘fantastic’ and said she had supported the football program, CBS Sports reported. Cohen did not hire Riley; he said that had not prevented them from working well together. His account addresses their relationship but does not establish any decision by USC about his future.
Riley also pointed to his experience at Oklahoma, saying people wanted him out after his first loss there as head coach in 2017, ESPN reported. He used that episode to describe how criticism can change with results. For USC, the immediate test is Ohio State, followed later on the reported schedule by defending champion Indiana and unbeaten UCLA. Riley said his focus was on the next opponent.
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Sources and context
- Lincoln Riley shuts down USC exit speculation as pressure builds: 'I believe in this place'CBS Sports
- Lincoln Riley, addressing future at USC, says 'This is where I want to be'ESPN
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.