A $70 million buyout on Lincoln Riley’s monster 10-year, $110 million contract is suddenly screaming loud after No. 16 USC football got absolutely embarrassed 24-7 on the road by unranked Wisconsin this past Saturday. It’s a shocking figure, reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz and ESPN’s Paul Finebaum earlier this fall, but it’s hard to ignore when a team starts the year as a potential College Football Playoff candidate and then completely face-plants. The road ahead was already treacherous, but after a loss like that, it feels like the wheels are falling off.
Riley’s Rollercoaster Ride Takes a Nose Dive
Remember the hype? Riley rolled into town in 2022 after huge success at Oklahoma, and his first season was everything fans dreamed of: 11-3, a Cotton Bowl appearance, and finishing 12th in the final AP poll. But then things got… complicated. The next two seasons, 2023 and 2024, saw USC go a disappointing 15-11 combined and completely miss the final AP poll. 2025 looked like a bounce-back, finishing 9-4 and 20th in the poll, with quarterback Jayden Maiava even leading the Big Ten in passing yards with 3,711. But this current year? It feels like regression is the only word for it. They barely escaped a 2-6 Rutgers team with a 42-35 win, and No. 20 Oregon thumped them 41-27 in Los Angeles. Sure, they have five other wins, but those opponents are way down in the Sagarin ratings: San Jose State (122nd), Fresno State (82nd), Louisiana (83rd), Washington (41st), and Penn State (36th). The Wisconsin game was just plain bad. USC coughed up minus-17 rushing yards while letting the Badgers gash them for 142 yards and two ground scores, all while Wisconsin barely threw the ball for just 58 passing yards. It’s tough to watch.
What’s Next for a Team That’s Off Course?
This program looks like it’s going in the wrong direction, and it’s happening fast. If the favorites win out, USC, currently 6-2, is projected to stumble to a 7-5 finish in Riley’s fifth season. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier. This Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET, No. 3 Ohio State rolls into town for a home date that feels like a must-win to salvage anything. After that, they visit No. 6 Indiana, which won’t be a cakewalk either. They should be big favorites against 2-5 (0-4 Big Ten) Maryland, but the regular season wraps up with the annual crosstown showdown against undefeated 7-0 UCLA, currently ranked ninth in the AP poll and about to climb even higher.
The Trojans don’t have much time to bounce back. With the program appearing to head south and a mediocre 7-5 finish staring them down, this upcoming game against No. 3 Ohio State isn’t just another Saturday night; it’s a make-or-break moment for any shred of hope left for Lincoln Riley’s fifth year at the helm. It’s time to see what this team is really made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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