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USC’s $500 Million Gamble: Will 2025 Finally Deliver Championship Returns?

Mark Haines on May 27, 2025

USC’s Lincoln Riley is running out of time.

After three seasons at USC, the once-celebrated coach who shocked college football by leaving Oklahoma now faces the most pressure of his career. His Trojans have regressed each year since an impressive 11-3 debut in 2022, stumbling to 8-5 in 2023 and a disappointing 7-6 in 2024. Meanwhile, USC has invested over $500 million in football infrastructure alone, making Riley’s tenure a fascinating case study in whether unlimited resources can overcome strategic missteps.

The 2025 season represents a crossroads. USC has made dramatic changes: hiring a $1 million general manager from Notre Dame, assembling the nation’s #1 recruiting class for 2026, and implementing the most comprehensive program overhaul since the Pete Carroll era. However, questions persist about whether these moves can address the fundamental issues that have plagued Riley’s tenure.

FanDuel has set USC’s win total at 7.5 games, exactly the same as the team achieved in 2024.

This conservative projection reflects both skepticism about the program’s immediate Big Ten contention and acknowledgment of its recent trajectory. Yet beneath these modest expectations lies a transformation that could finally break the cyclical pattern of hope and disappointment that has defined USC football for the better part of a decade.

The Notre Dame Heist That Changed Everything

Chad Bowden never planned to leave South Bend.

The Notre Dame general manager had just helped construct a roster that reached the national championship game. He was earning $300,000 annually in a role he’d built from the ground up, working alongside Coach Marcus Freeman in a program that was trending upward. Then USC called with an offer that tripled his salary and promised him “the greatest job in America.”

“USC, for me, it meant more to me,” Bowden explained during his introductory press conference. “When I was a kid, I watched Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush. That was my team. USC kind of held something in my heart.”

The hiring of Bowden for $1 million annually represents arguably the most impactful off-field acquisition in college football this offseason.

His track record speaks volumes:

  • Four unanimously ranked Top 12 recruiting classes at Notre Dame (2022-2025)
  • Named 2024 FootballScoop Player Personnel Director of the Year
  • Helped Notre Dame reach #15 in transfer portal rankings in 2024
  • Built championship-caliber rosters despite Notre Dame’s academic restrictions

The immediate impact has been staggering. USC currently holds the #1 ranking in the 2026 recruiting class according to multiple services, with 27 total commitments, including double-digit ESPN 300 prospects. This represents a dramatic philosophical shift from the transfer portal-heavy approach that defined Riley’s first three seasons.

The California-First Strategy

Bowden’s blueprint centers on a simple premise: stop letting elite California talent leave the state.

“I think the ’26 class is the best class that California has had in two decades,” Bowden told reporters. “If you look through it, and you really study what those classes look like, at least the top, probably 30, 40 players in the state.”

The numbers tell the story:

  • USC’s 2026 class: 63% from California
  • USC’s 2025 class: Just 23% from California
  • Successful programs for comparison: Texas (60% in-state), Georgia (75% in-state)

“We’re going to major in high school recruiting and minor in the portal,” Bowden declared. “We’re not just recruiting the kids, we’re recruiting families…And we’re going to keep the best players in California home.”

This approach represents a philosophical shift from Riley’s first three seasons, during which USC signed 65 transfers in four years, resulting in short-term talent infusions but limiting long-term depth and cultural cohesion.

The organizational infrastructure supporting Bowden includes proven talent evaluators from Wisconsin and Illinois who helped build successful programs at their previous stops.

The D’Anton Lynn Defensive Revolution

USC’s defense was a national embarrassment in 2023.

The unit allowed 34.4 points per game, ranking among the worst in Power Five football. Opponents completed 64% of passes while averaging 432.8 total yards per game. The run defense surrendered 186.5 yards per game, making USC a target for every power-running offense on the schedule.

Then D’Anton Lynn arrived from UCLA with a simple message: “Don’t give anybody anything.”

The transformation under Lynn represents one of the most dramatic single-season defensive turnarounds in college football history.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The statistical improvement from 2023 to 2024 was staggering:

Points Allowed Per Game:

  • 2023: 34.4 (among worst in Power Five)
  • 2024: 24.1 (middle of Big Ten pack)
  • Improvement: Over 10 points per game

Total Defense:

  • 2023: 432.8 yards per game (116th nationally)
  • 2024: 365.7 yards per game (65th nationally)
  • Improvement: 67 yards per game

Run Defense:

  • 2023: 186.5 yards per game (116th nationally)
  • 2024: 130.1 yards per game (43rd nationally)
  • Improvement: 56 yards per game

Lynn, who reportedly earns approximately $2 million annually, making him the sixth-highest paid defensive coordinator nationally, was retained after Penn State attempted to poach him for their defensive coordinator opening.

Key Takeaways

Passing Defense:
While passing yards allowed per game improved under Lynn, the biggest leap was in run defense and overall efficiency.

Points Allowed:
D’Anton Lynn’s 2024 defense allowed over 10 fewer points per game than Grinch’s unit and was also a marked improvement over Orlando’s era.

Total Defense:
Under Lynn, USC allowed nearly 75 fewer yards per game than under Grinch, and almost 70 fewer than under Orlando.

Rushing Defense:
Lynn’s unit was especially improved against the run, cutting more than 50 yards per game off Grinch’s average and 30 off Orlando’s.

National Ranking:
USC’s national defensive rank improved dramatically under Lynn, jumping from 119th (Grinch) to 68th, the best since Orlando.

USC’s defense under D’Anton Lynn in 2024 showed significant statistical and ranking improvements compared to both the Todd Orlando and Alex Grinch eras. The Trojans went from one of the nation’s worst Power Four defenses to a respectable, mid-tier Big Ten unit—especially in points allowed and run defense—under Lynn’s leadership.

Cultural Transformation Beyond Statistics

The changes extended far beyond raw numbers.

Through two games early in 2024, USC’s defense was penalized just once—a dramatic improvement in discipline that reflected Lynn’s emphasis on fundamentals and accountability. Defensive end Jamil Muhammad captured the new mentality: “That’s one of coach Lynn’s biggest messages as well as the whole defensive staff, ‘Don’t give anybody anything. Whatever they get, that has to be them earning it.'”

“The tackling was getting better, it wasn’t perfect, there was some misses that we need to correct,” Lynn said after USC’s victory over LSU. “It’s something we have been emphasizing with all positional groups.”

Entering his second season, Lynn benefits from increased talent and depth that could elevate USC’s defense from respectable to elite.

The defensive line now features six players weighing over 300 pounds compared to just two in 2024. The secondary, bolstered by five-star early enrollee RJ Sermons and returning talent like safety Kamari Ramsey, represents a unit with significant upside.

The linebacker corps gained former NFL defensive coordinator Rob Ryan as position coach, bringing both credibility and scheme sophistication to a unit rebuilding after losing key contributors Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Mason Cobb.

The Quarterback Gamble: Maiava’s Make-or-Break Moment

Jayden Maiava wasn’t supposed to be USC’s starting quarterback in 2024.

The UNLV transfer arrived as insurance behind Miller Moss, expected to learn the system and compete for future opportunities. Then USC stumbled to 4-5, Moss was benched, and Maiava suddenly found himself tasked with trying to salvage the season.

He delivered when it mattered most.

The Late-Season Surge

Maiava’s numbers in his final four starts tell a story of both promise and development:

  • Record: 3-1 (including Las Vegas Bowl victory)
  • Passing: 65% completion rate, 906 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs
  • Rushing: 4 touchdowns
  • Signature moment: Game-winning touchdown pass to Ja’Kobi Lane vs. UCLA

“I have a lot of confidence in Jayden,” Riley said during December’s early signing period. “He played well, led us to two big victories and I thought really put us in great position.”

The UCLA victory showcased Maiava’s dual-threat capability and clutch gene. Down late in the fourth quarter, he delivered a “Caleb Williams-esque play,” reversing field and slipping a tackle to find Lane in the back corner of the end zone for the game-winning score.

The Competition and Development

Maiava enters 2025 as the heavy favorite to start despite competition from five-star freshman Husan Longstreet.

Riley praised Maiava’s development during spring practice: “He’s not one that you worry about getting complacent or not wanting to work on the areas he knows he needs to attack and put in the necessary time and effort. For him, it’s sometimes more like don’t be so hard on yourself.”

The quarterback room represents both USC’s biggest question mark and greatest opportunity for transformation.

Maiava’s mobility adds a dimension that was missing during the Moss era. His ability to extend plays and create with his legs provides Riley with additional options in an offense that struggled with balance throughout the 2024 season.

Riley’s Strategic Crossroads: Pass-Happy Tendencies vs. Balanced Success

Lincoln Riley built his reputation on offensive innovation and balance.

His Oklahoma teams consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in both passing and rushing efficiency. The counter-run scheme was a staple of those Sooner offenses, providing the foundation for explosive passing games by establishing physical dominance and maintaining offensive balance.

Then he arrived at USC, and something changed.

The Troubling Pass-First Trend

Riley’s recent tendencies toward pass-heavy play-calling represent a concerning departure from his most successful approach:

  • Called 50+ passes in three separate games during 2024 (never did this at Oklahoma)
  • USC went 0-3 in games where quarterbacks threw 50+ times
  • Against Michigan: 51 passes vs. 21 rushes
  • Against Washington: 29 passes vs. 8 runs in first half alone

This trend contradicts Riley’s earlier success at Oklahoma, where balanced attacks featured elite quarterback play supported by dominant rushing games. The departure of proven runners and Riley’s apparent lack of trust in USC’s ground game led to a one-dimensional approach, which Big Ten defenses effectively exploited.

“I don’t think there’s like one area of our program where like we’re so far away from being like great or championship caliber,” Riley said in a recent interview. “What I just see is like every part of it just got to continue to get a little bit better.”

This assessment reflects confidence but also acknowledgment that USC’s issues span multiple areas rather than requiring wholesale changes.

The hiring of new position coaches—including tight ends coach Chad Savage from Colorado State and offensive line coach Zach Hanson—suggests efforts to address scheme and development issues. Whether these changes can restore the balanced, explosive offense that defined Riley’s reputation remains a central question for 2025.

The Offensive Line Vulnerability That Could Derail Everything

USC’s offensive line represents a ticking time bomb.

While the projected starting five appears capable, featuring returning starters Elijah Paige and Alani Noa alongside transfers J’Onre Reed (Syracuse) and DJ Wingfield (Purdue), depth remains a significant concern. Tobias Raymond emerged as a reliable option at right tackle, but the quality of backup linemen remains questionable.

If injuries strike the starting unit, USC may lack the depth necessary to maintain Big Ten-level protection and run blocking.

This vulnerability reflects years of under-recruitment and development in the trenches, an issue that Bowden’s recruiting emphasis aims to address but won’t fully resolve until future recruiting classes arrive on campus.

The receiving corps provides reason for optimism despite portal losses:

  • Ja’Kobi Lane returns after catching 48 passes for 721 yards and 7 TDs from Maiava
  • Makai Lemon provides veteran leadership and reliable production
  • Depth chart features talented underclassmen ready for expanded roles

Lane’s spectacular spring practice performances, including a viral one-handed catch, suggest continued growth. “The spectacular plays that he makes on the field it’s no surprise,” Maiava said. “That’s who Ja’Kobi is, he’s going to go up and make those plays every time the ball comes his way.”

The Big Ten Gauntlet: Schedule Reality Check

USC’s 2025 schedule tells two different stories.

The non-conference portion opens with games against Missouri State (August 30) and Georgia Southern (September 6), which should provide early momentum and confidence-building opportunities. These matchups provide Riley and his staff with opportunities to build chemistry and establish an offensive rhythm before facing conference competition.

Then the Big Ten reality arrives.

The Crucial Crossroads Games

USC faces several defining matchups that will likely determine the season’s trajectory:

At Home:

  • Michigan (rebuilding under new leadership after coaching change)
  • UCLA (crosstown rivalry, winnable game)
  • Iowa (low-scoring, defensive battle)

On The Road:

  • Oregon at Autzen Stadium (hostile environment, championship-caliber opponent)
  • Notre Dame in South Bend (Riley is 1-2 vs. Fighting Irish)
  • Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois (potential trap games testing depth and focus)

The schedule’s structure reflects both opportunity and peril. USC avoids Ohio State and Penn State from the conference’s upper tier, creating a more manageable path to eight or nine wins. However, the program’s recent struggles in road conference games—going 0-3 outside California in Big Ten play during the 2024 season—highlight the challenge of competing consistently in a league that demands physical and mental toughness week after week.

Riley acknowledged the unique nature of USC’s Big Ten debut during a recent ESPN appearance: “We played in just an amazing number of one-score games, and it was kind of down to the last play of the games. I could probably coach 50 years and not have another season that that kind of winds up like that.”

Breaking the Trojan Emotional Rollercoaster

USC fans know this cycle by heart.

August arrives with renewed optimism fueled by recruiting victories and coaching changes. Early-season momentum builds against overmatched opponents, creating dreams of playoff contention. Then comes the devastating loss to elite competition, followed by bargaining for “statement wins” and eventual disappointment when the season slips away.

The 2025 season threatens to repeat this familiar pattern.

The Structural Changes That Could Break The Cycle

Yet there are legitimate reasons to believe this year might be different:

Organizational Infrastructure:

  • Professional front office led by a proven GM
  • Enhanced recruiting staff and evaluation systems
  • Modern NIL and roster management approach

Defensive Foundation:

  • Proven coordinator in Lynn with a track record of improvement
  • Significantly upgraded talent and depth
  • Cultural emphasis on physicality and accountability

Recruiting Momentum:

  • #1 ranked 2026 class with a focus on California dominance
  • Shift from portal dependence to sustainable high school recruiting
  • Elite prospects at positions of need (offensive line, secondary)

The challenge lies in translating these improvements into victories in November and December, when championships are decided and fan patience is at its greatest test. USC’s recent history of close losses (five games by a combined 16 points in 2024) suggests the program is closer to breakthrough success than its record indicates.

Converting moral victories into actual wins requires the mental toughness and depth that have been conspicuously absent in recent seasons.

The $500 Million Question: Investment vs. Returns

USC’s financial commitment to football excellence is staggering.

Beyond Riley’s $11.5 million annual compensation and Bowden’s $1 million salary, the program is constructing the $225 million Bloom Football Performance Center, while also completing a $315 million renovation of the Coliseum. This represents over half a billion dollars invested in football infrastructure alone.

The return on investment remains questionable.

Riley’s 26-14 record at USC, coupled with regression in each of his seasons since his 2022 debut, has generated skepticism about whether the financial commitment aligns with competitive results. The massive buyout—estimated between $80-90 million—provides Riley job security while intensifying pressure for tangible improvement.

Athletic Director Jen Cohen expressed confidence in her embattled coach: “Lincoln has the experience, right? He’s built and led championship teams before. So my focus with him is just investing and giving him, and not just him, but his entire coaching staff, his support staff that he has around him, every resource possible to get to the next level.”

2025 Projections: Three Realistic Scenarios

Best-Case Scenario: The Breakthrough (9-3)

If the defensive improvements continue, the offensive line stays healthy, and Maiava takes a significant step forward, USC could surprise skeptics with nine wins and legitimate bowl game aspirations.

This would require:

  • Victories in several “coin flip” games against middle-tier Big Ten opponents
  • Splitting marquee matchups against Michigan, Oregon, and Notre Dame
  • Sustained health along the offensive line
  • Maiava’s development into a consistent dual-threat quarterback

Most Likely Scenario: Modest Progress (7-5 to 8-4)

The 7.5-win projection reflects realistic expectations for a team still adapting to Big Ten physicality while integrating new personnel.

Key factors:

  • Continued defensive improvement under Lynn
  • Offensive line depth tested, but surviving
  • Maiava is providing competent but inconsistent quarterback play
  • Home-field advantage is proving decisive in close games

This range would represent modest progress but likely wouldn’t satisfy boosters or fans expecting more dramatic improvement given the program’s investment level.

Worst-Case Scenario: Continued Regression (6-6 or worse)

Injuries to the thin offensive line, continued defensive inconsistency, or struggles by the quarterback could leave USC fighting for bowl eligibility again.

This outcome would:

  • Almost certainly intensify pressure on Riley
  • Potentially accelerate discussions about program direction
  • Raise serious questions about the massive financial investment

The 2026 Vision: Championship Foundation or Recruiting Mirage?

The actual test of Bowden’s impact may not come until 2026.

USC’s current #1 recruiting class ranking includes elite prospects at positions of need, particularly along both lines of scrimmage and in the secondary. However, the program’s recent history of late decommitments—losing four five-star prospects in the final weeks of the 2025 cycle—serves as a cautionary reminder not to count commitments before signing day.

“I think the ’26 class is the best class that California has had in two decades,” Bowden told reporters, emphasizing the talent pool available to USC in their backyard.

The 2026 class features impact prospects who could transform USC’s championship potential:

  • Five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe (IMG Academy)
  • Five-star cornerback Elbert Hill (Ohio)
  • Multiple blue-chip linemen and defensive backs
  • Elite skill position talent from California

Suppose this class holds together and develops as projected. In that case, USC will be positioned as a legitimate Big Ten and College Football Playoff contender for the first time since the Pete Carroll era.

The Verdict: Crossroads Season Arrives

The 2025 USC football season arrives at a unique crossroads.

The structural improvements—from Bowden’s hiring to enhanced recruiting infrastructure to defensive personnel upgrades—provide legitimate reasons for optimism that extend beyond the usual offseason hope. The shift toward sustainable roster construction, emphasis on California recruiting dominance, and cultural changes under Lynn represent the most comprehensive program overhaul in years.

Yet the challenges remain formidable.

An unforgiving Big Ten schedule tests depth at crucial positions where USC remains vulnerable. The weight of massive expectations, fueled by unprecedented financial investment, creates pressure that has derailed previous seasons. The familiar cycle of August optimism and midseason disappointment lurks as a possibility that could define Riley’s legacy.

As Cohen noted earlier about Riley’s proven track record, the 2025 season will ultimately determine whether her faith in the embattled coach is justified. With unprecedented resources, structural improvements, and talent upgrades in place, this represents Riley’s best—and perhaps final—opportunity to prove that USC’s $500 million investment will pay championship dividends.

For a fan base accustomed to the emotional rollercoaster of unfulfilled promises, 2025 offers both familiar risks and unprecedented reasons for hope. The infrastructure for sustained success is being built.

Whether it translates to victories in November and December—when championships are decided and legacies are forged—remains college football’s most compelling storyline as USC attempts to reclaim its place among the sport’s elite.

The Next Billion Dollar Game

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The Not-So-Sweet Survival Guide: College Football’s Week 11 Hot Seat Rankings

Mark Haines on November 5, 2024

It’s college football’s week 11 – that special time of year when athletic directors start pricing golden parachutes. At Arkansas, Sam Pittman (#1) watches Jaxson Dart throw for 515 yards against his defense and wonders if those moving trucks outside his office are just passing through . In Birmingham, Trent Dilfer (#2) has mastered the art of making UAB worse than “freakin’ Alabama,” while Temple’s Stan Drayton (#3) costs more per loss than some entire Group of Five coaching staffs.

Our Hot Seat Rankings start with these 10:

1. Sam Pittman – Arkansas

In the statistical carnage that was Ole Miss’s 63-31 dismantling of Arkansas, two numbers stood out like neon signs above a desperate Vegas casino: 515 and 6. That’s how many yards and touchdowns Jaxson Dart threw without a single interception—a feat no SEC quarterback had ever managed. His favorite target, Jordan Watkins, turned eight catches into 254 yards and five touchdowns, the efficiency that makes defensive coordinators contemplate career changes.

Lane Kiffin, college football’s resident chaos merchant, couldn’t resist twisting the knife with a post-game quip about airport tarmacs—a particularly cruel jab given that Sam Pittman might soon be familiar with them himself. In the merciless accounting of college football, Pittman’s seat isn’t just hot; it is approaching nuclear fusion.

2. Trent Dilfer – UAB

On Saturday, UAB’s Kam Shanks and Jalen Kitna shattered school records in a 59-21 victory over Tulsa that felt less like a breakthrough and more like a beautiful funeral. The numbers were staggering: Shanks’s 311 all-purpose yards, Kitna’s 404 passing yards, and six touchdowns—the statistics that usually save coaching careers. But in Birmingham, where Trent Dilfer has managed to transform a conference champion into a 2-6 cautionary tale, even victory feels like defeat.

The real story isn’t in Saturday’s box score—it’s in Dilfer’s infamous “It’s not like this is freakin’ Alabama” quip, the kind of comment that makes boosters reach for their checkbooks and their phones simultaneously. In less than two years, he’s taken Bill Clark’s ascending program—six straight winning seasons, two conference titles—and performed the sort of dismantling usually reserved for failed hedge funds or terminated football programs, something Birmingham knows too well.

The irony? Dilfer’s still collecting his $1.3 million salary while his team plays like they’re working for minimum wage against real competition. In the economics of college football, that’s the kind of inefficiency that doesn’t survive long—even with Mark Ingram in charge.

3. Stan Drayton – Temple

In the economics of college football, Temple University has managed to create a case study in how not to allocate resources. They’re paying Stan Drayton—a career running backs coach—$2.5 million annually to perform heart surgery. At the same time, Florida Atlantic handed Tom Herman the same job for the price of a luxury sedan. It’s the kind of financial decision that would have kept the late Lew Katz up at night, pacing his private jet’s cabin, checkbook in hand.

The cruel mathematics of Temple’s predicament reveals itself in two numbers: 55-0, the score by which SMU dismantled the Owls on national television, and $7.5 million, the remaining cost of Drayton’s contract. In a different era, when Temple had its own version of a Wall Street activist investor in Katz, this market inefficiency would have been corrected by Monday morning. But his son Drew, now on the Board of Trustees, treats the family fortune like a conservative bond portfolio—safe, steady, and utterly useless for the kind of radical intervention Temple football requires.

The tragedy isn’t just in losing—everyone loves Drayton the Man. It’s watching a university bet its football future on a position coach while having no hedge against failure. In North Philadelphia, where campus security costs outweigh football aspirations, they’re learning that love doesn’t show up in the win column.

4. Billy Napier – Florida

For three hours and fifty-six minutes on Saturday, Billy Napier lived in an alternate universe where Florida football still mattered. His Gators, held together with duct tape and populated partly by what appeared to be a local moving crew (they’d shown up early, anticipating a blowout), had somehow matched the mighty Georgia Bulldogs punch for punch. The score sat at 20-20, and Napier could almost feel his seat temperature dropping from nuclear to merely scalding.

But Georgia, like a cat toying with an injured mouse, was merely setting up the punchline. Carson Beck had thrown three interceptions, seemingly playing to Florida’s level, until you realized it was all part of the script. In four brutal minutes, the Bulldogs engineered a 75-yard drive, snatched an interception, and scored again—transforming what could have been Napier’s career-saving upset into just another SEC cautionary tale.

The cruelest part? Those last four minutes proved that the previous 56 had been merely Georgia’s idea of performance art, a masterclass in giving false hope to the doomed.

5. Dave Aranda – Baylor

At Baylor, Dave Aranda’s job security has behaved like a volatile tech stock—swooning early, rebounding late, and keeping traders guessing. After opening 2-4 with wins against only Air Force and something called Tarleton State, Aranda’s position looked about as secure as a crypto wallet password. But in the fluid market of college football coaching, even the most bearish positions can reverse course.

Two consecutive wins against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have performed the kind of market correction usually reserved for Federal Reserve announcements. The remaining schedule—TCU, West Virginia, Houston, and Kansas, none currently above .500—looks less like a gauntlet and more like a carefully curated path to bowl eligibility. “Six wins and he’s back,” whispered one industry insider, with the kind of certainty usually reserved for insider trading tips.

The irony? Aranda, the defensive genius who once commanded premium value in the coaching marketplace, finds his future tied to the most basic of metrics: win six games or clean out your office. In Waco, where faith and football intersect with ten-figure endowments, salvation comes from a .500 record.

6. Sonny Cumbie – Louisiana Tech

In Huntsville, Texas, on a Tuesday night that felt more like a Samuel Beckett play than a football game, Sonny Cumbie’s Louisiana Tech team managed to lose 9-3 while winning almost every statistical category that matters. They outgained Sam Houston 312-268, held a rushing attack that averaged 200 yards per game to just 105, and forced two turnovers. By any rational measure, they should have won. But college football, like tragedy, follows its peculiar logic.

The box score reads like a hedge fund’s risk assessment report gone wrong: four turnovers, two turnovers on downs, and three points to show for it all. Twice, the Bulldogs penetrated within the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter alone, finding new and creative ways to self-destruct each time. This kind of performance makes athletic directors update their coaching search firms’ contact information.

The cruel irony? Cumbie’s defense played well enough to win a conference championship game. Instead, they watched their offense turn the red zone into a haunted house, fumbling away what little hope remained of salvaging their season. At 3-5, with Jacksonville State looming, Cumbie finds himself selling the one commodity no one in college football wants to buy: moral victories.

7. Joe Moorhead – Akron

Joe Moorhead’s return to Akron had all the elements of a classic homecoming story—the prodigal coordinator returns, older and wiser, ready to transform his former program. It was the kind of narrative Hollywood makes movies about. Instead, it’s become a documentary about entropy: two straight 2-10 seasons, with 2023 following the same inexorable path toward dysfunction.

Saturday’s 41-30 loss to Buffalo reads like a physics problem where all the equations work backwards. The Zips outgained Buffalo 452-390, dominated through the air 378-210, and won the third-down battle 43% to 23%. Ben Finley threw for 378 yards and four touchdowns—numbers that in any rational universe translate to victory. But Akron, like a time traveler who can only arrive after the critical moments have passed, spotted Buffalo a 38-7 lead before remembering how to play football.

The cruel irony? Moorhead was supposed to be the sure thing—the experienced head coach, the familiar face, the proven winner. Instead, he’s become living proof that in college football, like quantum mechanics, observation changes the outcome. In Akron, where they’ve spent decades trying to solve the equation of relevance, they’re learning that even the smartest professors sometimes fail the final exam.

8. Mark Stoops – Kentucky

Mark Stoops has achieved something that should be impossible in the physical universe of college football: becoming Kentucky’s all-time winningest coach (73 victories) while simultaneously watching his support evaporate like bourbon at a tailgate. It’s the kind of contradiction that makes quantum physicists scratch their heads—how can someone be the most successful coach in school history and a source of fan rebellion?

The 2024 season opened like a Southern Gothic novel—high expectations, veteran talent, and a schedule that read like a list of ancient curses. By week two against South Carolina, the plot had turned dark: the offensive line collapsed like a condemned building, and fans who’d once praised Stoops’ program building started treating his flirtation with Texas A&M like a betrayal in a Faulkner story.

The cruel irony? In a state where basketball championships are measured like bourbon vintages, Stoops made football matter. He turned seven straight bowl games into an expectation rather than a miracle. As whispers suggest he might walk away, Kentucky faces a terrifying question: What if their greatest football coach ever was also their last chance at sustained relevance? In Lexington, where basketball season can’t start soon enough, they learn that success and satisfaction rarely arrive in the same bottle.

9. Hugh Freeze – Auburn

In the Gothic horror story that is Auburn football, Hugh Freeze has managed to accomplish something previously thought impossible: making Jordan-Hare Stadium about as intimidating as a petting zoo. The latest chapter? A 17-7 loss to Vanderbilt that read less like a football game and more like an exorcism gone wrong—except the demons won.

The numbers tell a story of decay that would make Edgar Allan Poe proud: 4-10 against SEC opponents since his arrival, an offense that treats the end zone like it’s radioactive, and a fan base discovering that their traditional autumn rituals of victory have been replaced by something far more sinister: mediocrity. They’re not just losing; they’re losing to Vanderbilt at home, the kind of plot twist that makes Stephen King seem unimaginative.

The cruel irony? After enduring what they called “the worst coach in SEC history, ” Auburn hired Freeze to be their savior.” Now, as Freeze watches his quarterback Payton Thorne perform weekly reenactments of college football’s greatest disasters while Jarquez Hunter stands idle on the sideline, they learn a painful lesson: sometimes the cure can feel worse than the disease. On the Plains, where “War Eagle” once struck fear into visitors, they discover that not all resurrection stories have happy endings.

10. Lincoln Riley – USC

Lincoln Riley’s USC experiment has begun to resemble a Silicon Valley startup in freefall—the kind where the CEO starts banning journalists, restricting information flow, and contemplating whether to return the deposit on the party clown. The numbers tell the story of this implosion: 5-11 in their last 16 games, a stark reversal from the 17-3 start that had USC boosters dreaming of their next Pete Carroll.

Saturday’s 26-21 loss to Washington felt less like a football game and more like a hedge fund’s last trading day. Miller Moss threw three interceptions, each one driving down USC’s stock price a little further. The remaining schedule—Nebraska, UCLA, Notre Dame—looms like a series of margin calls. A bowl game, once considered a foregone conclusion in the Riley era, now feels about as sure as a cryptocurrency recovery.

The tragedy isn’t just in the losing—it’s in watching Riley transform from offensive genius to besieged executive. We expect his next move to come straight from his Oklahoma playbook: painting the windows black in Heritage Hall and the McKay Center. In L.A., where style points count double, Riley’s program has become something worse than unsuccessful: It’s become uncool.

Check out our complete list here. Share your thoughts here.

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College Football’s Hot Seat Rankings: Your Voice Matters

Mark Haines on November 3, 2024

The 2024 college football season has been a rollercoaster of expectations and disappointments, and no one knows this better than the fans. As we enter the final stretch, it’s time for you to weigh in on which coaches are feeling the heat and which ones might need to update their résumés. Your voice matters – cast your vote here.

Why Your Vote Matters Now

The landscape of college football has shifted dramatically this season. We’re seeing traditional powerhouses struggle, unexpected collapses, and fan bases growing increasingly restless. From Happy Valley to Los Angeles, from The Plains to The Hill, passionate fans question whether their programs are heading in the right direction.

The Notable Names:

James Franklin, Penn State

The numbers tell a story that Penn State fans know all too well: 13-26 against AP Top 25 teams, 3-18 against Top 10 teams, and a painful 1-10 record against Ohio State. The same old story played out in a year when the playoffs seemed within reach. Is being “good” good enough for Happy Valley?

Lincoln Riley, USC

Making $10 million per year comes with expectations, and at 4-5 (2-5 in conference play), Riley’s Trojans are in danger of missing a bowl game entirely. The shine from that 11-3 first season is fading fast, and the remaining games against Nebraska, UCLA, and Notre Dame could define his future.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn

When Vanderbilt becomes your latest disappointment in a season full of them, questions arise. Freeze’s Tigers are matching the identical SEC records that got his predecessor fired, and while recruiting rankings look promising, the on-field product tells a different story. That “snake oil salesman charm” might need more than future promises to satisfy the Auburn faithful.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas

Giving up 63 points at home to Ole Miss might be the final straw. When your head coach admits you got “out-played, out-coached, and out-physicaled,” it’s hard to maintain confidence. The question isn’t whether Pittman can get you to 6-6; it’s whether that’s enough for a program with Arkansas’s history.

Other Hot Seats to Watch

  • Ryan Walters (Purdue): A potential 1-11 season looms
  • Mike Norvell (Florida State): Last year’s ACC title might buy time, but 2024’s 1-7 conference record burns
  • Brent Pry (Virginia Tech): That 1-11 record in one-score games isn’t winning any favor
  • Kevin Wilson (Tulsa): Losing 45-7 at halftime to a previously 1-6 UAB team speaks volumes
  • Sonny Cumbie (Louisiana Tech): Three straight losing seasons could spell doom

Make Your Voice Heard

Now it’s your turn. Whether you’re a frustrated fan looking to send a message or a satisfied supporter wanting to back your coach, your vote matters. The temperature on these hot seats changes weekly, and your input helps shape the conversation about the future of these programs.

Cast your vote now and let these coaches know exactly where they stand. After all, in college football, the court of public opinion can be just as impactful as the scoreboard.

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Coaches on Fire? Readers Respond to the Hot Seat Rankings

Mark Haines on October 25, 2024

Welcome back to the Coaches Hot Seat, where we dissect the volatile world of college football coaching and track those whose seats are getting too toasty for comfort. Today, we’re tackling our readers’ fiery feedback and passionate perspectives. Because let’s face it, college football fandom is a crucible of emotions, and sometimes those emotions boil over. So hang on – we’re about to explore the highs and lows, the agreements and disagreements, and the raw, unfiltered takes from the passionate community that makes college football what it is.

A Fan’s Take: Will Hall’s Legacy and the Future of Southern Miss Football

“Will Hall is a good man who did many great off the field teams for the program. But, on the field, it just didn’t work out. His “last season” (2023) was 3-9, replicating his first season, and now this 1-6 start that finally led to the plug being pulled. Southern Miss not many years ago under Jeff Bower and Larry Fedora, consistently had winning records and made bowl games. Jay Hopson had winning teams every year, until resigning after the first game of 2021 after losing to South Alabama.

In the landscape of NIL and up and rising programs like South Alabama that have cut into their recruiting pool, it is going to take a home run hire to bring USM back to relevance in my opinion.”

You bring up some great points about the challenges facing Southern Miss football. It’s a brutal landscape, with the rise of NIL and programs like South Alabama making it harder to recruit top talent.

Will Hall indeed had some success off the field, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Ultimately, wins and losses matter most in college football, and unfortunately, those weren’t consistently enough during his tenure.

As you mentioned, Southern Miss has a proud football tradition with a history of success under coaches like Jeff Bower and Larry Fedora. The fans in Hattiesburg are hungry to get back to that level, and it will take a dynamic leader and a strong recruiting effort to make that happen.

We’re excited to see who Southern Miss hires as its next head coach. It’ll be interesting to follow their search and see what direction they decide to take. Hopefully, they can find someone to bring the Golden Eagles back to prominence in the Sun Belt!

“Do Some Research!”: Fans Demand Huff’s Hot Seat Status

How do you not list Charles Huff in your Coaches Hot Seat Rankings? 20 coaches with a hotter seat is complete BS!! He almost got fired last year and still sucks!!! He blew a 23-3 in the 4th quarter and almost blew another lead against Georgia State. We know you don’t care about the smaller schools. The fact that nobody has Huff on the hot seat at this point in the season is ridiculous!! Do some research, probably don’t even know the Sun Belt exists. At least pretend to care about smaller schools like Marshall.

Look, I get it. It’s infuriating. You’ve got a coach who, in your eyes, just isn’t cutting it. The team’s underperforming, and to add insult to injury, nobody seems to notice or care. It’s like Marshall football exists in its own little bubble, right?

Believe me, I understand that frustration.

But here’s the thing: you’re not alone. We see those smaller schools grinding it out, battling every week. Look at our Hot Seat rankings – we’ve got coaches from smaller programs all over the list. Did we miss Marshall this time? Absolutely. And that’s on us. We’re not perfect.

But here’s where you come in. This isn’t just my list. It’s a conversation. Our community, our members – you guys – you have a voice. You provide the insights and the on-the-ground perspective that we need. And guess what? Starting next week, you’re going to have even more say. We’re putting the power in your hands with community voting.

So speak up. Let your voice be heard. This is how we build a truly comprehensive and insightful Hot Seat ranking – together.

Fan Reaction to Riley’s Reign

This is year 3, and “coach” Lincoln Riley can collect $12,000,000 per year for the rest of the decade.

The stadium was 1/3 full on Saturday. Will Jennifer Cohen be handing tickets out at the border before the ND game to fill seats? Lincoln better be #1 on the hot seat list. He was there last year.

“Better be?” “1/3 full?” Okay, let’s dive into this.

First, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: Lincoln Riley is making money. A reported $10 million a year (not 12) is a lot of cheddar, and with that comes a certain expectation. USC expects to win, and they expect to win big.

He’s also got a reported $87 million buyout. Do you want to know why he’s not #1? There are 87 million reasons why.

Wisconsin and Penn State were sellouts. So are Nebraska and Notre Dame.

I’ve been critical of certain aspects of Riley’s program at USC, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

So, let’s hold off on the “better be’s” and the panic buttons. It’s more likely that he decides to leave on his own rather than USC buying him out.

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The $110 Million Question: Is Lincoln Riley’s USC Experiment Unraveling?

Mark Haines on October 18, 2024

Picture this: It’s 2021, and USC just dropped a cool $110 million on Lincoln Riley, college football’s offensive wunderkind. The champagne’s flowing, the Spirit of Troy – the greatest marching band in the history of the universe – is playing “Conquest,” and Trojan fans are waving the “victory” sign while simultaneously dreaming of national titles.

Fast-forward to 2024, and the Trojans are stumbling into the Big Ten with offensive and defensive lines as sturdy as a Hollywood movie set. Fans wonder if they’ve bought tickets to a blockbuster or a B-movie flop.

What’s going on? Let’s break it down, play by excruciating play.

The Golden Boy’s Tarnished Crown

Remember when Riley was the toast of Los Angeles? Seems like ancient history now.

Year one: 11-3. Not bad. Riley waltzed in, waved his offensive magic wand, and voila! USC was relevant again. Caleb Williams did his best Houdini impression on the field, escaping tackles and expectations. The Trojans were back, baby!

Or so we thought.

Year two: A stumble. The offense still hummed, but the trenches? They were like a revolving door in a hurricane.

Year three: A faceplant into Big Ten reality. USC’s gone 8-8 against power conference teams since that 2022 Pac-12 title game loss. Ouch. It’s like watching a Hollywood blockbuster with amazing special effects but a plot full of holes.

But here’s the kicker: Riley’s teams are getting pushed around like a shopping cart in a tornado. Michigan and Minnesota – yes, Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes and 11 immovable defensive linemen – manhandled USC in the trenches.

The Trojans have become the fancy sports car that can’t handle a pothole. All flash, no bash.

The Numbers Game: Hot Seat Alert

Hold onto your visors, folks. The number crunchers here at Coaches Hot Seat have cooked up a fancy algorithm, and it’s spelling trouble in Tommy Trojan land. Our proprietary metric, “Minimum Acceptable” (MA) winning percentage for USC? A cool .697.

Riley’s current record? It’s dipped below that magic number faster than a Hollywood star’s career after a bad facelift. We’re talking .667 overall, with a measly .308 against ranked teams. Yikes!

Winning percentage for Jones, McKay, Robinson I, Carroll, and Riley after eight games into their 3rd year at USC. The blue line represents USC’s minimum acceptable winning percentage before the seat starts to heat up (as determined by Coaches Hot Seat.)

Winning record vs AP Ranked teams after eight games into the 3rd year at USC for each coach. AP Rankings started in 1936, so Howard Jones is omitted.

The Ghost of Trojans Past

Let’s talk about expectations. At USC, they’re higher than the Hollywood sign.

Howard Jones, John McKay, John Robinson I, Pete Carroll. These aren’t just names; they’re legends. By year three, they were all either holding national championship trophies or knocking on the door.

Howard Jones? By year three, he had USC steamrolling towards its first national title. The man built a football powerhouse when LA’s biggest attraction was still orange groves.

John McKay? Year three, 1962. National champs. Boom. He invented “Student Body Right” and ran it down everyone’s throat. Why? Because he could.

John Robinson I? National title by year three. The man could recruit and develop talent like he had a crystal ball and a hypnotist on staff.

Pete Carroll? Okay, he took until year three to win a national title. Slacker. But by then, USC was already the coolest show in town. Half of Hollywood was at practice, and the other half wished they were.

Riley? He’s still trying to figure out which door to knock on. It’s like he’s got the keys to a Ferrari but can’t find the ignition.

The Rebuild Reality Check

Now, before we get too caught up in the USC glory days, let’s take a quick detour to Reality Check Boulevard. Remember Nick Saban at Alabama? Jim Harbaugh at Michigan? These guys didn’t exactly set the world on fire right out of the gate, either.

Saban, the holy grail of college coaching, went a pedestrian 7-6 in his first year at Alabama. It took him three seasons to bring home the national title. Harbaugh? He needed seven years to finally beat Ohio State and make the College Football Playoff.

So, is Riley behind schedule? Maybe. But he’s not exactly in uncharted territory. The difference? Saban and Harbaugh embraced their school’s cultures faster than a Hollywood starlet embraces Botox. They recruited locally like their lives depended on it. And most importantly, they built their teams from the trenches out.

Riley’s got the time. But does he have the blueprint?

The Trenches: From Sandcastle to Fortress?

Here’s where things get interesting, folks. Right now, USC’s offensive and defensive lines are about as imposing as a velvet rope at a nightclub. But hold your horses – or should we say, hold your Trojans.

Riley’s squad is full of raw talent that is developing faster than a Polaroid picture. These young warriors are busting their chops every day, and word on the street is that next year, they might just transform from a sandcastle into a fortress. It’s like watching a before-and-after montage in a Hollywood makeover film—the potential is there; it just needs time to be realized.

But here’s the rub: being young and promising in college football is like bringing a spork to a knife fight. You might make some interesting moves, but you’re not winning many battles… yet. The key word here is ‘yet.’

This is the late-season record for Jones, McKay, Robinson I, Carrol, and Riley through week eight of each respective coach’s third season.

The Recruiting Puzzle: Missing Pieces in USC’s Own Backyard

Here’s a wild stat: In the last three years, USC signed just 15% of California’s top 60 high school players. None were linemen.

Let that sink in.

USC, the program that once had SoCal high schools on speed dial, is now the stranger at the party. It’s like forgetting your ATM pin at your local bank.

Riley and his staff? They’re like tourists in their own recruiting backyard. Local high school coaches, once USC’s best friends, are wondering if Riley even knows their names.

One prominent SoCal coach (let’s call him Coach X – this isn’t the Marvel Universe, but secret identities matter) put it bluntly: “I’ve had more meaningful conversations with my Uber drivers than with USC’s recruiting staff.”

Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.

It’s like a Hollywood star forgetting where they came from. And in college football, that’s a cardinal sin. Make that a cardinal and gold sin.

The Transfer Portal: College Football’s Fool’s Gold?

Riley’s leaning on the transfer portal like it’s a crutch. Sure, it’s flashy. It makes headlines. “USC Lands 5-Star Transfer!” Sounds great, right?

But here’s the thing: Riley’s building a house with rental furniture. It looks great for the open house, but what happens when the lease is up?

The Offensive Conundrum: A One-Man Band

Here’s a plot twist: Riley, the offensive genius, needs help. Shocking, right? It’s like finding out Gordon Ramsay can’t make a grilled cheese.

Word on the street is that Riley needs to hire an offensive coordinator who knows the run game, like Riley knows Instagram filters. Someone to collaborate with, to balance out that air-raid obsession. Because right now, Riley’s offense is as one-dimensional as a paper doll.

And while we’re at it, how about Riley starts acting like a head coach? You know, the guy who’s supposed to oversee the whole shebang, not just the fancy passing plays. Right now, he’s outsourcing the defense like it’s a call center, taking zero responsibility when things go south. That’s not leadership; that’s dodgeball.

The Media Game: Riley’s Fumble

Here’s where it gets interesting. USC is Hollywood’s team. The media isn’t just part of the job; it’s part of the show.

McKay had one-liners sharper than a Spielberg script. Following the 51–0 loss to Notre Dame in 1966, “I told my team it doesn’t matter. There are 750 million people in China who don’t even know this game was played. The next day, a guy called me from China and asked, ‘What happened, Coach?” Boom. Mic drop before mic drops were a thing.

Robinson made reporters feel like family. He spun yarns that would make Mark Twain jealous. The media didn’t just cover USC; they were part of the story.

Carroll? He turned press conferences into pep rallies. He was P.T. Barnum in khakis and a headset. The man could sell sunshine to Southern California.

Riley? He’s treating the media like a blitz he can’t read. Cantankerous. Defensive. It’s a bad look; in LA, looks matter – just ask any Hollywood producer.

After a recent loss, Riley snapped at a reporter, “You clearly don’t understand football if you’re asking that question.” Yikes. That’s not burning bridges; that’s nuking them from orbit.

And it’s not just the media. Former players? They feel about as welcome as a vegan at a barbecue. The Trojan Family? More like the Trojan Distant Cousins Twice Removed.

The Tradition Gap: Riley’s Cultural Blindspot

Here’s a shocker: Riley is about as connected to USC tradition as a flip phone is to 5G. He has the Trojan history book, but it might as well be written in hieroglyphics.

Open practices? Nah, Fort Knox is more accessible. The legendary #55 jersey for linebackers? Gathering dust. The Notre Dame rivalry? Riley’s campaigning to drop it faster than a Hollywood diva drops last season’s fashion.

It’s like he’s directing a remake of a classic film but hasn’t bothered to watch the original. No wonder the team comes out flatter than week-old soda against rivals like Notre Dame and UCLA.

During his first season, Riley’s teams performed well against UCLA and Notre Dame. Last year, they came out “flat” and lost to both. Note: UCLA’s first game against USC occurred at the end of Jones’s third season, and the first against Notre Dame occurred during Jones’s second season.

The Big Ten Reality Check

USC is about to trade in its surfboard for a snow shovel. The Big Ten isn’t just a new conference; it’s a whole new world. It’s like moving from “Baywatch” to “Game of Thrones.” Winter is coming, and USC looks woefully underprepared.

If Minnesota pushed USC around, what would happen against Ohio State? It’s like watching a chess player realize he’s signed up for a boxing match.

Riley’s offenses are Ferraris. The Big Ten? It’s demolition derby country. USC’s about to learn that sometimes, you need a tank, not a sports car.

The Long Game: USC’s Football Future

Here’s the thing about college football: today’s decisions echo into tomorrow faster than you can say “dynasty.” Riley’s current approach isn’t just affecting win-loss columns; it’s reshaping USC’s entire football ecosystem.

By neglecting local high school relationships, Riley risks more than just missing out on the next star quarterback. He’s potentially dismantling decades-old pipelines that have fed USC’s success. It’s like cutting off the roots and expecting the tree to grow taller.

And that cultural disconnect? It’s not just annoying alumni. It’s slowly eroding the very identity that made USC football a brand name. The Trojan mystique, that intangible quality that made kids dream of wearing cardinal and gold, is fading faster than a Hollywood star’s relevance.

If Riley doesn’t course correct, USC might win some games, but at what cost? A program that feels more like a mercenary squad than a storied college football powerhouse? A fanbase more connected to their transfer portal apps than their own team’s history?

The clock isn’t just ticking on Riley’s tenure. It’s ticking on USC’s football soul.

The $87 Million Question

Here’s the rub: Riley has an $87 million buyout, and he’s not going anywhere soon. That’s not a contract; it’s a fortress with a moat full of money.

But in college football, “soon” is relative. Two more seasons of this, and even that golden parachute might not look so shiny. It’ll be more like a lead balloon.

Jennifer Cohen, USC’s athletic director, is putting on a brave face worthy of a Spielberg close-up. “I have full confidence in him,” she says, with all the conviction of a B-list actor swearing they’re “just friends” with their co-star. But here’s the twist in our Hollywood tale: Cohen didn’t cast Riley in this big-budget drama, and word on the Tinseltown grapevine is that their chemistry reads about as well as “Ishtar.”

The Bottom Line

Is Lincoln Riley’s seat hot? Not yet. But it’s warming up faster than a Kardashian’s Instagram post.

The next two seasons aren’t just crucial. They’re everything. Riley needs to:

  1. Remember SoCal high schools exist. Maybe take a tour. Kiss babies. Whatever it takes.
  2. Keep beefing up those trenches and polishing those special teams. Currently, USC’s lines are about as imposing as a velvet rope at a nightclub—they’re a work in progress, And their special teams are more “special” than “team.”
  3. Hire an offensive coordinator who knows what a fullback is. Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, coach.
  4. Start acting like a head coach. Your job is to oversee the program. You’re so far into the offensive weeds that you can’t see the entire game.
  5. Master the media dance, or at least fake it till you make it. In LA, perception is the only reality that matters. Today, you’re treating reporters like they’re Oklahoma fans at a USC pep rally. Flip that script, coach. In this town, a good soundbite recruits better than any assistant.
  6. Embrace the Trojan culture and Trojan family. They are not just history; they are your secret weapon.

The Final Act: Riley’s Redemption Arc?

Here’s the thing, Trojan faithful: Lincoln Riley isn’t just some hack director stumbling onto the USC lot. He’s got the chops, the vision, and, let’s face it, the paycheck of a blockbuster auteur. With a few script rewrites – beefing up the local recruiting, hiring a run-game whisperer of an OC, and maybe taking a crash course in “How to Make Friends and Influence Media” – this show could still be a smash hit.

The trenches are on the verge of a glow-up that would make any Kardashian jealous. The talent is there; it just needs seasoning. And let’s be honest: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was any dynasty worth its salt. Saban needed time. Harbaugh needed time. Hell, even Carroll didn’t turn water into wine overnight.

This is the Home vs Road record for Jones, McKay, Robinson I, Carrol, and Riley through week eight of each respective coach’s third season.

So, while Riley’s seat might be warming up faster than a convertible’s leather on a SoCal summer day, it’s not hot… yet. The potential for a USC renaissance lurking just beneath the surface like a plot twist in a Tarantino flick.

The question is: can Riley pull it all together before the credits roll? Can he merge his offensive genius with the grit and glamour of USC football? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – everyone loves a good comeback story in this town. Over to you, Coach Riley. The stage is set, the cameras are rolling, and the Trojan Family awaits its happy ending.

One Last Thing: The Brisket Incident: A Meaty Metaphor

Picture this: It’s April 2021, and Lincoln Riley, the offensive mastermind, decides to show off his culinary chops. The result? A brisket so dry it could’ve been used as a coaster at the Sahara. Social media exploded faster than a USC fan’s expectations after a five-star recruit commitment.

Fast forward three years, and the internet hasn’t forgotten. That brisket has become the culinary equivalent of USC’s defensive line – tough, chewy, and leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

But here’s where the plot thickens, folks. In a twist worthy of a Tarantino flick, we’ve got a Southern California solution that could save Riley’s bacon (or in this case, his brisket):

Enter Gus’s Barbeque, the Trojan Horse of the smoked meat world.

Phone: 626-799-3251. Website link: Gus’s BBQ

It’s like the transfer portal for BBQ – ready to step in and save the day when your homegrown talent isn’t cutting it.

See, in Los Angeles, it’s not about whether you can do it yourself – it’s about knowing who to call. Riley might not be able to smoke a brisket, but if he can learn to swallow his pride and dial-up Gus’s, he might turn this meat metaphor around.

And isn’t that what USC needs right now? A coach who knows when to call an audible, when to bring in the specialists? Whether it’s BBQ or football, sometimes you need to admit you’re out of your depth and bring in the pros.

So, Coach Riley, here’s some free advice: Next time you’re thinking of firing up the grill, maybe fire up that phone instead. After all, in LA, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know who smokes the competition.

And who knows? If Riley can master this playbook – knowing when to cook it himself and when to call in the reinforcements – he might serve up a juicier season than any brisket Gus could smoke.

Now, that would be a comeback story that even Hollywood couldn’t script.

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