LOS ANGELES -- After completing his third season as head coach at the University of Southern California, Lincoln Riley faces an uncertain future with the Trojans.
Riley’s dynamic offense was brought to Los Angeles to establish a clear identity for the program. Before his arrival, USC had only won four games in 2021. However, in his first season, Riley led the team to an impressive 11 victories, marking the largest turnaround in the program's history.
Under his electrifying offensive strategy, USC scored 579 points in 2022, significantly improving from the 344 points scored in 2021.
Caleb Williams was part of the first two seasons under Riley, but it wasn't until his second season that Riley began to face criticism for his decision-making, which resulted in one of USC's most disappointing seasons.
Alex Grinch served as the defensive coordinator for USC in 2022 and for part of the 2023 season before being fired mid-season. He was brought to USC by Coach Riley, with whom he developed a strong and close relationship during their time together at Oklahoma. During the 2023 season, the USC defense struggled significantly, allowing an average of 34.5 points per game. They ranked among the lowest in the country in nearly every statistical category, finishing 120th in rushing defense and 107th in pass defense.
Riley faced significant pressure to fire his close friend following a 52-42 loss to Washington at the Coliseum. He initially hoped to keep Grinch on the staff for the rest of the season, but within less than 24 hours, he made the decision to let him go—a move that should have been made after the 2022 season.
USC went on to lose the final two games of the 2023 season, including an embarrassing loss to UCLA at home to close the year. However, the Trojans had a remarkable win at the Holiday Bowl behind a terrific performance by Miller Moss over Louisville.
Moss secured the starting quarterback position after Jayden Maiava transferred from UNLV to Southern California for the 2024 season, where he joined the competition for the role. However, Maiava never truly had a chance, as Riley was confident that Moss was the right choice to help turn the program around in its third year. Unfortunately, he was mistaken once again.
As the 2024 season began, there was genuine excitement in Moss about starting the campaign in Las Vegas. The Trojans opened strong with an impressive win over LSU in week one, followed by a dominant 48-0 shutout against Utah State in week two. However, Riley’s Trojans faced their first loss of the season after failing to convert in the late moments of the game against Michigan.
After starting the season with a record of 3-1, the Trojans lost five of their next eight games, finishing the season with a 6-6 record. During USC's bye week before their matchup against Nebraska, Coach Riley decided to change quarterbacks, opting for Maiava. The Trojans defeated the Cornhuskers and UCLA at Rose Bowl Stadium, with Maiava winning his first two starts. However, in the final game against Notre Dame, he threw two pick-sixes in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 49-35 loss and concluding the 2024 season.
After three full seasons as head coach of the Trojans and a Bowl Game pending, Riley has recorded 25 wins and 14 losses. Some might recall Clay Helton, who recorded 28 wins and 11 losses during his first 39 games at USC. The program currently holds hope for a turnaround under Riley's leadership, especially considering the lucrative contract they offered him to coach at USC. While many believe that USC will not part ways with Riley, it remains uncertain whether he might choose to step away from the historic opportunity before him.
The Chicago Bears, who selected Williams as the first overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, announced on Friday that they have relieved Matt Eberflus of his duties as head coach. Given Riley's connection to Williams, it is likely that he will consider the opportunity to transition to the NFL. Although Williams has won only four games in his first 12 NFL games played, Riley has the potential to be the savior for the Bears.
Williams told reporters in Chicago that he has received support from several individuals during his rookie season in the NFL, including Riley. Their strong bond began when Riley recruited Williams to Oklahoma during the pandemic and grew even stronger when Williams followed him to Southern California after Riley signed a substantial contract.
The day after Eberflus was fired, Williams and Riley met again at the Coliseum. During Rivalry Week, Williams served as the tunnel captain for the Trojans while they hosted Notre Dame. The Bears' coaching search has begun, and there is a connection between Riley and the team that does not involve Williams.
Riley is represented by Trace Armstrong, who played a crucial role in securing his 10-year contract. Armstrong has also represented the last two head coaches of the Bears, Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus. Additionally, he represents the current Bears General Manager, Ryan Poles. The connections are strong, and the head coaching position will remain open for Riley until he chooses to decline it.