Lincoln Riley buyout: How USC’s finish could dictate his future

Lincoln Riley buyout: How USC’s finish could dictate his future

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Lincoln Riley buyout: How USC’s finish could dictate his future

It’s make-or-break time for Lincoln Riley as the head coach at USC. Following the Trojans’ 41-27 loss to Oregon on Saturday night, there is reason to believe Riley could be facing his final season in Los Angeles.

According to CBS Sports, a source said that despite Riley’s high buyout, the remainder of the 2026 season could dictate his fate at USC.

Riley is in his fifth season at the helm but the Trojans have won 10 or more games just once in his tenure. That came back in 2022, which was his first season, when the Trojans won 11 games. Since then, Riley has won eight, seven, and nine games, respectively.

MORE: College football overreactions after Week 4: USC won’t change under Lincoln Riley

Large buyout might not matter

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, shakes hands with USC head coach Lincoln Riley as the Oregon Ducks face the USC Trojans on

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, shakes hands with USC head coach Lincoln Riley as the Oregon Ducks face the USC Trojans on Sept. 26, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Riley’s buyout is believed to be around $70 million. He signed a 10-year, $110 million deal when he was hired ahead of the 2022 season. His deal runs through the 2031 season, but there is growing impatience surrounding the Trojans’ play on the field.

With Oregon beating the Trojans, USC is now 0-3 against rival Oregon since Dan Lanning took over the program. And following the Ducks’ win over USC, Lanning made sure he threw a recruiting pitch in there.

“Three wins against these guys,” Lanning said. “I guess if you’re interested in winning football games and you’re from this area, you should go to Oregon. If you want to go to a Chris Brown concert, you should go here.” 

USC signed the top-rated recruiting class in the 2026 cycle. Boosters are giving Riley what he needs to succeed, but he has to show results. USC fans haven’t seen much success since the days of Pete Carroll, and with the 12-team College Football Playoff, USC should be contending for a spot on a yearly basis.

Now or never for Riley

NCAA Football: San Jose State at Southern California

Aug 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the San Jose State Spartans in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Lincoln Riley came to USC as an offensive guru. But it’s not the offense that struggles; it’s the defense. He opted to hire former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to take over the defense, but the Trojans have once again struggled.

The alarm bells were ringing two weeks ago when the winless Rutgers Scarlet Knights took USC to the brink by scoring 35 points against the Trojans. USC needed a stop to win the game, 42-35.

This past weekend, Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore was knocked out of the game early, and backup Dylan Raiola came in and did whatever he wanted against USC. To make matters worse, there are now off-field issues surrounding USC.

Linebacker Desman Stephens was the player who knocked Moore out of the game, and he was seen smiling on the sideline after Moore’s injury. Riley allowed Stephens back on the sideline, which caused some backlash, and now Stephens has a one-game suspension.

With games against Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Indiana in a row, that will be a deciding stretch for Riley’s head coaching tenure at USC.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos