USC Linked to College Football Hall of Fame Coach

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USC Linked to College Football Hall of Fame Coach

The USC Trojans entered the offseason with momentum on offense and a handful of questions on defense.

Lincoln Riley finished his fourth season in Los Angeles with a 9–4 record, but the program again fell short of making it to the College Football Playoff.

With the Trojans putting together a strong offensive season — having the eighth-best yards-per-game average in college football during the 2025 season — the lack of defensive improvement became a talking point.

Ultimately, progress stalled, and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn departed for Penn State late in December. Since Lynn’s exit, USC has kept its DC position open while exploring options to fill the vacancy.

The opening has fueled speculation about what direction head coach Riley might take, but the search gained a bit of clarity on Sunday when On3 reported that USC has been in contact with Gary Patterson regarding the opening.

Although both sides have been in touch, and conversations might have already taken place, no agreement or formal hire has been finalized yet.

Patterson’s name carries uncommon weight in the collegiate ranks. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in mid-January on his first ballot and remains the winningest head coach in TCU program history.

Over 22 seasons in Fort Worth, Patterson compiled a 181–79 record and guided the Horned Frogs through Conference USA, the Mountain West and into the Big 12, going 11-6 in bowl games during his time there.

Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches in the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Before becoming a head coach, Patterson built his reputation as a defensive coordinator at TCU from 1998 to 2000.

Following his 2021 departure from TCU, Patterson stepped away from head coaching but remained active in the sport. Patterson last served in off-field roles at Texas as a special assistant, and most recently worked as a consultant at Baylor in 2024.

For now, the situation remains fluid as USC has not announced a hire, with On3 emphasizing that discussions are ongoing but no pen has been put to paper yet.

Related: LSU’s Lane Kiffin Exchanges Messages with No. 1 Transfer Portal Player from Colorado

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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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