USC Coach Lincoln Riley Says He Is Staying Despite Playoff Struggle
Following a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin, Riley affirmed his commitment to the Trojans ahead of a critical matchup against Ohio State.
By Kavya Lin ·
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is in the fifth year of his tenure at the Trojans, a program that has yet to secure a College Football Playoff berth or a conference title under his leadership. Speaking after Tuesday's practice in Los Angeles, Riley addressed questions about his future directly, stating he has no intention of leaving the program.
"This is where I want to be. This is the right place for me," Riley told reporters. He emphasized that if he did not want to be at the school, he would not have accepted the position. He noted that he has had many opportunities to depart but chose to stay because he believes he is the right person to lead the team.
Riley downplayed any disconnect with athletic director Jen Cohen, who was not the administrator who originally hired him. Riley described their relationship as fantastic and said Cohen has been incredibly supportive of his work. He credited her as a major contributor to the program's development since her arrival.
The Trojans enter Saturday's game against Ohio State with a 41-20 record for Riley since he took the job. The team suffered a 24-7 defeat to Wisconsin on the previous Saturday, which marked the lowest offensive output of any team Riley has ever coached. A loss to Oregon in Week 4 also left the playoff hopes in jeopardy.
Despite recent setbacks, the program has seen investment in its infrastructure. USC recently opened a new $200 million facility and secured the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the current cycle. Billboards around Los Angeles carried the message "The time is now" before the season began, reflecting high expectations from the coaching staff.
Riley compared the current scrutiny to his early days at Oklahoma in 2017, when fans demanded his job after a loss to Iowa State. He noted that public opinion often swings between overly positive and overly negative extremes. His goal is to remain steady through the middle of that cycle.
The Trojans face a difficult stretch of schedule with upcoming games against defending champion Indiana and undefeated UCLA. Offensive lineman Elijah Paige said Riley wants more than anyone else for USC to win. Riley said he is focused on preparing for Ohio State rather than looking beyond the next game.
Source: ESPN
