Lincoln Riley’s USC football coaching tenure? It might all come crashing down tonight against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Nobody knows for sure if this is the absolute end of the line, but if the Trojans get blown out, it’s gonna be seriously tough to see him back for the 2027 season.
The 52 Points That Still Haunt USC
Remember 2023? That’s when Alex Grinch, USC’s defensive coordinator, was absolutely done. Why? Because the Trojans coughed up 52 points to Washington at basically this exact point in the season. There was zero doubt left about his future after that Los Angeles Coliseum meltdown. Is this Ohio State game going to be *that* kind of moment for Riley, giving us that same feeling of finality and clarity? Or can USC pull off a massive upset against the Buckeyes and stay alive in the College Football Playoff race?
Now, Riley’s buyout is huge, no doubt. But you gotta think USC’s brass is eyeing any path out of that monstrous payment, right? Maybe even hoping Riley takes the Baylor Bears’ head coaching job to make an exit easier. This isn’t just about a game anymore, it’s about the financial chessboard too.
A Win Could Actually Be A Problem?
Here’s where it gets wild: USC fans are in a seriously tough spot tonight. On one hand, yeah, they want their team to win. Who doesn’t? But on the flip side, a loss actually makes it easier to finally, *finally* put an end to the Lincoln Riley era. Think about it: there are legitimately good head coaching candidates out there, and USC has a real shot to upgrade over Riley. But to make that upgrade, they’ve gotta get Riley out first.
So, a win over Ohio State tonight? It could totally throw a wrench into that plan, making it way harder to part ways. And even if they *do* win tonight, it only means a lot if the Trojans can then go on to beat Indiana and UCLA to hit a 10-2 record. Does anyone honestly see them doing that after last week’s performance?
All eyes are on the Los Angeles Coliseum tonight. Will Lincoln Riley and USC shock the world and deliver some much-needed scoring highlights, unlike last week’s struggle against Wisconsin? Or will the Buckeyes deliver the final, crushing blow that clarifies Riley’s future? We’ll be watching every snap, because whatever happens, it’s going to tell us everything about the future of USC football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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