‘Bringing Your Program Down to the Gutter’ — Paul Finebaum Labels Lincoln Riley ‘A Complete Fraud,’ Calls for USC To Make ‘$70M’ Decision
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USC did not just lose to Oregon on Saturday. According to Paul Finebaum, Lincoln Riley somehow managed to turn a 41-27 home loss into a referendum on the entire program.
The ESPN analyst unloaded on Riley during Monday’s “First Take,” arguing USC’s one-game suspension of linebacker Desman Stephens II did not go nearly far enough after his late hit on Dante Moore and celebration afterward. Finebaum’s answer quickly became less about Stephens and much more about the man running the program.
Paul Finebaum Calls Lincoln Riley a ‘Complete Fraud’
“Absolutely not. It’s an utter disgrace,” Finebaum said when asked whether Stephens’ one-game suspension was enough. “What I think we saw here was a tale of an elite coach and a complete fraud as a coach, and I think everybody knows who the fraud is. It is Lincoln Riley.”
Finebaum then went straight for the checkbook.
“It will cost about $70 million to get rid of Lincoln Riley,” Finebaum added. “But I promise you, USC people, it will be worth it, because this guy is bringing your program down to the gutter.”
The timing made the rant hit even harder. USC entered the Oregon game unbeaten and ranked No. 12, then watched the Ducks win 41-27 after Moore left following Stephens’ hit. Riley said afterward he did not see Stephens celebrating, and when asked why the linebacker remained on the sideline after being ejected, he answered that Stephens was still part of the team.
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That explanation did not exactly put out the fire.
Thelatest USC backlash had already been building after the Oregon loss, with fans and former players questioning why Riley still has the job. The Trojans are now 4-1, but the “maybe this is finally the year” honeymoon lasted about four weeks.
Finebaum Says USC Should Eat the Buyout
Finebaum’s bigger issue is that Riley’s fifth season still looks way too familiar.
He pointed out that Riley now owns the same 39-19 record through 58 games that Clay Helton had at the same point in his USC tenure. Helton ultimately finished with a 46-24 record before USC fired him in 2021. Riley arrived with a massive contract, a Heisman-winning quarterback, and expectations that USC would become a national-title contender again.
Instead, the Trojans still have not reached the College Football Playoff under him.
Finebaum also ripped Riley’s handling of the aftermath, saying Dan Lanning deserved credit for keeping Oregon from letting the scene become “an absolute massive brawl.” He called USC’s response “completely classless” and criticized Riley for waiting until Sunday to suspend Stephens.
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The exact buyout number is not public because USC is a private school, but estimates have hovered around the $70 million range, Finebaum cited.
That is an absurd amount of money to pay someone not to coach football. Finebaum’s argument is that continuing to pay Riley to coach it might be even more expensive.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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