USC athletics director Jennifer Cohen faces a critical decision regarding Lincoln Riley’s future, with the Trojans’ recent loss to Indiana serving as the final straw for many observers. While the approximately $70 million buyout clause creates a significant financial hurdle, the argument for retaining Riley is largely driven by a desire to avoid absorbing those costs rather than a genuine belief in his long-term success. The political winds currently favor keeping the coach for another season, but this short-term financial prudence risks masking a deeper strategic failure that could plague the program for years to come.
A weak Big Ten season makes the Trojans’ Playoff snub a damning indictment of Riley’s tenure.
The context of the 2025 season makes USC’s inability to secure a College Football Playoff spot particularly egregious. The Big Ten conference was notably weak this year, with powerhouses like Ohio State and Oregon losing three games each well before the regular season concluded. Michigan and Penn State underperformed expectations, and Indiana’s squad appeared significantly inferior to its previous iteration. Even UCLA, leading the conference, relied on a backup quarterback and a modest offense. In a conference devoid of elite competition, USC’s failure to capitalize on this opportunity represents a massive oversight that cannot be overlooked.
If the decision were purely merit-based, the logical conclusion is that it is time for Lincoln Riley to go. Swallowing the hard pill of the massive buyout is preferable to continuing a tenure defined by underperformance relative to the competitive landscape. The fact that USC could not navigate a weak Big Ten to a Playoff berth highlights a systemic issue in Riley’s coaching approach or roster management. Continuing to invest in a coach who fails to deliver results even when the competition is subpar is a risk USC can no longer afford to take.
Source: Yahoo Sports
