‘Big Mistake,’ ‘Went Heavy Like Deion Sanders’ — Colin Cowherd Pinpoints Exactly Where Lincoln Riley Went Wrong as USC Ponders $70M Decision

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A win over Oregon on Saturday would have been huge for Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans as they continue pursuing their long-awaited College Football Playoff berth. Instead, USC suffered its first defeat of the season, falling 41-27 to the Ducks.

The loss dropped the Trojans to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, placing renewed attention on Riley’s position. Amid the discussion around the Trojans coach’s hot seat, Colin Cowherd offered his perspective on what could be contributing to Riley’s struggles.

Colin Cowherd Sounds Alarm on Lincoln Riley’s Strategy at USC

The Oregon loss marked another missed opportunity for Riley to prove that USC can compete with the teams it expects to challenge for championships. The loss swiftly added to the pressure surrounding Riley, since he is now 5-15 against ranked opponents during his tenure with the Trojans.

However, the bigger issue appears to be the disconnect between USC’s significant investment and its on-field results. Cowherd took this opportunity to outline his perspective on some of those factors.

“The NIL came out, the transfer portal, and instead of recruiting Southern Cal high school kids, he had no connection there,” Cowherd said. “And he’s not the greatest salesman, but he had no connection. He went heavy, like Deion Sanders or Brian Kelly at LSU. He went heavy into the portal.

“Take about six guys a year. That’s what Notre Dame does. You’re taking 25 guys a year. Those coaches don’t want those players, or they wouldn’t transfer. If you’re getting a Georgia guy, Kirby Smart doesn’t want him. Kirby Smart thinks he’s a pain in the [expletive]. And they overrecruited the portal and ignored, to a large degree, Southern California high school recruiting. It was a big mistake.”

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In reference to Cowherd’s discussion, USC secured 35 commits in the 2026 class, including 57% in-state prospects. The Trojans finished No. 1 in the On3/Rivals 2026 cycle rankings but also dealt with four decommitments, including five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin.

As for Notre Dame, the program finished No. 2 nationally with 30 commitments in the 2026 class. Three of those recruits were five-star prospects.

Cowherd continued to highlight his concerns about Riley’s approach while discussing the challenges facing USC.

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“Do I think they went way too heavy in the NIL portal stuff? Absolutely,” Cowherd added. “Big mistake. And that may cost him his job. Do I think they lack toughness? Absolutely. Toughness, physicality, win on the road.”

Riley’s future at USC could become increasingly complicated because of the financial implications of moving on from him. Reports indicate his buyout clocks in at $70 million, although industry sources told CBS Sports after the Oregon game that USC could reconsider depending on how the remainder of the season plays out.

However, Cowherd believes asking donors to provide roughly $35 million annually for roster spending and facility projects could make Riley’s buyout particularly challenging unless the donor base is fully behind such an expense.

Riley and USC will try to bounce back with a win against Washington on Saturday. PFN’s CFB Playoff Meter currently gives the Trojans a 13.7% chance of securing a berth in the College Football Playoff this season.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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