Lincoln Riley is expected to be USC’s next head football coach, according to ESPN. Riley served as the head coach of Oklahoma from 2017 to 2021 and had a 55-10 record, including three College Football Playoff appearances in five seasons.
USC will buy out the rest of Riley’s $38.9 million contract, an extension he signed in 2020 which was set to last until 2025. Riley will join a USC team with freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart serving as the team’s signal-caller after replacing junior quarterback Kedon Slovis.
Riley has experience developing young quarterbacks into star level talent as he showed with Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray, all three of which were transfer quarterbacks to Oklahoma that thrived under Riley and made the NFL. Much like when Mayfield, Hurts and Murray transferred to Oklahoma, Dart is a young quarterback who will look to flourish under Riley.
Riley will look to bring a spark to USC’s recruitment, as Oklahoma ranks No. 7 in the nation and first in the Big 12 for its 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. USC is ranked No. 67 nationally and ninth in the Pac-12.
Reports from On3 Sports claim Riley informed his Oklahoma staff Sunday that he was leaving. Riley shut down questions about potential interest in LSU’s head coaching job Saturday, saying, “I’m not going to be the next head coach at LSU.”
The hire will mark a new era for USC. During Riley’s tenure with Oklahoma, USC went 33-23 under Clay Helton and lost both bowls they attended during the time. Helton was dismissed this season following two games.