Jeff HauserMon, November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM UTC·1 min readPaul Finebaum says now is the right time for a Big Ten coach to leave originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Paul Finebaum believes Lincoln Riley may have reached a crossroads at Southern California. The ESPN analyst says it could be the right time for the high-profile coach to move on after another season short of expectations.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuring an appearance on The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum said USC’s 42-27 loss to Oregon, which eliminated the Trojans from College Football Playoff contention was a bad blow. There also a growing sense that Riley’s tenure has stalled.
“I’ve been particularly hard on him,” Finebaum said. “I felt like he’s done a good job this year, but he lost again in a big moment, and ultimately that really hurts because he’s not going to the playoff again. I think Lincoln Riley ought to high tail it out of Southern Cal and see if he can get in one of these major coaching jobs.”
Riley was hired in 2022 with a reported 10-year, $110 million contract. He was expected to restore USC to national prominence, but the Trojans have shown the same recurring issues. His 34-17 record through nearly four seasons isn't impressive.
USC fans don’t really get excited about a 9-3 season. With UCLA up next, the Trojans face one final chance for a victory in their season before bowl play.
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