For USC fans who want Lincoln Riley fired, Penn State just may be able to help.
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported Monday afternoon that Riley is, indeed, on the hot seat, despite a buyout thought to be around $70 million.
This report came less than 48 hours after SC suffers its first loss of the season, 41-27 at home to Oregon.
Riley hasn’t beat Oregon in three tries as USC’s boss. That’s part of the problem. He had a great start to his time in LA, going 11-3 year one and helping QB Caleb Williams to a Heisman Trophy. The next year, Williams was back, but USC regressed, finishing 8-5. That set the stage for a bizarre 2024 season where USC finished 7-6 and five of those losses— including an overtime heartbreaker at home to Penn State— were by a combined 19 points.
Last year, USC did ok, finishing 9-4 and in the top 25.
Clearly, more is expected this season.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“The larger concern for Riley is the gap between USC’s investment and its results,” Zenitz wrote. “People associated with the program expect the Trojans to contend for national championships and the investment matches those expectations: USC’s No. 1 2025 signing class is already making waves on a roster that is one of the sport’s 12 most expensive. The reality, though, is stark: USC averaged five losses per season over the three years preceding 2026 and Riley is now 5-15 against ranked opponents at USC.”
Penn State could have a chance to make Riley 5-16 when the teams play Oct. 10 in Happy Valley, but that will depend on what PSU does this week.
Coming off its own disheartening home loss to Wisconsin, Penn State is out of the AP top 25, but since it was third in “others receiving votes,” a win at Northwestern Friday night should get PSU back in.
Game Story: Penn State Sputters in the Second Half Fails To Hold Off Wisconsin 24-20
If Riley and USC can beat a ranked Penn State team in White Out conditions, that will at least temporarily help his approval rating. Before that, it must beat Washington at home Saturday.
