Lincoln Riley’s USC tenure could end with loss against Ohio State’s backup quarterback, and $70m buyout
USC coach Lincoln Riley is under mounting pressure after his team’s 13-point loss to Wisconsin, in which the Trojans scored just seven points. The article argues that Saturday’s home game against Ohio State, whose starting quarterback is unavailable, could become a turning point for Riley’s future.
The loss was especially damaging because Wisconsin managed only 58 passing yards, while USC had recently beaten Penn State and entered the season with playoff ambitions. USC still faces Ohio State, Indiana, Maryland and UCLA in 2026, and the article says a reported $70 million buyout could complicate any decision to dismiss Riley.
In short
- USC scored seven points in its loss to Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin passed for only 58 yards.
- Riley’s reported buyout is $70 million.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
USC could argue that a coach hired amid playoff ambitions must be judged against those expectations, and a 13-point defeat in which the team scored only seven points raises serious questions about performance. A home game against Ohio State without its starting quarterback offers a meaningful chance to respond; another poor showing could strengthen the case for a change, even if the reported buyout is costly.
The case against
USC could argue that one damaging loss does not settle Riley’s longer-term value, particularly after a recent win over Penn State, and that the remaining schedule gives the team time to recover. The reported $70 million buyout makes dismissal a major financial commitment, so the university may reasonably weigh the cost, the wider season’s results and the prospects of a replacement before acting.
Explained simply
Lincoln Riley is the head coach of the University of Southern California’s Trojans, a major college American football team. USC entered the season hoping to compete for a place in the national play-offs, and Riley’s results are being judged against those expectations.
Ohio State is another leading college team, and its regular starting quarterback is unavailable for the game described. USC’s remaining schedule includes several other difficult opponents, so its results could shape how the season is viewed and what options the university considers for Riley.
A coach’s contract can make a change costly: the article reports that dismissing Riley could involve a buyout of about $70 million. That figure may affect the university’s decision, alongside the team’s performance and its remaining games.