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USC great Keyshawn Johnson calls for Lincoln Riley’s job: ‘Time to find somebody else’
No. 18 USC lost 27-13 to No. 9 Indiana, prompting former Trojans star Keyshawn Johnson to call for head coach Lincoln Riley to be replaced. The defeat dealt a major blow to USC’s College Football Playoff hopes and added to questions about Riley’s future.
The teams were level at 10 at half-time, but USC scored only three points after the break as Indiana pulled away. The loss left USC 7-3, marking another season with three defeats under Riley, who was hired in November 2021; USC next faces unranked Maryland before its regular-season finale against No. 4 UCLA.
In short
- Keyshawn Johnson says USC should find a new coach.
- USC lost 27-13 at Indiana and fell to 7-3.
- The defeat severely weakened the Trojans’ playoff hopes.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Johnson’s case is that USC has invested heavily in Riley to restore the programme’s standing, yet the team remains short of its playoff ambitions and has again reached three losses. A poor second half against a highly ranked opponent may reinforce concerns about whether Riley can turn talent and resources into consistent results, and a change could give USC a chance to reset.
The case against
Riley’s defenders can argue that one defeat to a top-ranked Indiana side should not decide a coach’s future, particularly with two regular-season games still to play. Replacing him would bring disruption and uncertainty, while continuity may give him time to develop his team and show whether the broader results justify the investment.