Paul Finebaum has recently commented that Lincoln Riley may be at a pivotal point in his coaching career at Southern California. The ESPN analyst suggests that now could be the right moment for the prominent coach to consider other opportunities after another season that fell short of expectations.
During an episode of The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum discussed USC’s disappointing 42-27 defeat against Oregon, a loss that effectively ended the Trojans’ hopes of making the College Football Playoff. He pointed out a growing sentiment that Riley’s progress at the helm may be stalling. “I’ve been particularly hard on him,” Finebaum stated, noting that while he believes Riley has done a commendable job this year, the failure in critical games ultimately weighs heavily on his coaching credibility.
Riley, who was brought on board with a lucrative 10-year, $110 million contract in 2022, was expected to lead USC back to its former glory in college football. However, the team has continued to grapple with familiar challenges, resulting in a 34-17 record after nearly four seasons, a figure that many fans find underwhelming. With a record like that, excitement surrounding a 9-3 season is notably muted among the Trojans’ faithful.
Looking ahead, USC’s next game against UCLA presents one final opportunity for the team to cap off the season on a high note before entering bowl play. The outcome of this matchup could influence both Riley’s immediate future and the trajectory of the program he has been tasked to revitalize. As the pressure mounts, all eyes will be on USC to see if they can end the year with a strong performance.