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Joel Klatt Issues Stern Warning To Prominent College Football Head Coach: ‘You Can’t Go 7-5 Again’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 11:49 AM ET

Joel Klatt didn’t hold back when talking about Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans heading into the 2025 college football season. During a recent episode of The Joel Klatt Show, the Fox Sports analyst issued a direct message to the USC head coach: Enough excuses—it’s time to win.

"(USC) started last season with a win over LSU, and I thought that that was going to propel them to a potential playoff season," Klatt said. "In Lincoln Riley’s first year, they were a game away from going to the playoffs. I personally believe that Riley has maybe come under some criticism that might not be fair, but I could be wrong. He’s going to have to win this year. You can’t go 7-5 again."

Riley arrived in Los Angeles with sky-high expectations. He brought Heisman winner Caleb Williams with him, loaded up in the transfer portal, and had full buy-in from the administration. But after going 11-3 in his first year, USC stumbled to a disappointing 7-5 regular season in 2024, including losses to Notre Dame, Penn State, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota.

Even more troubling: USC’s defense—an issue during Riley’s time at Oklahoma—remained a glaring liability. Despite replacing defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, the Trojans still gave up over 30 points per game last year, often undoing solid offensive performances.

Riley’s offensive reputation can only carry him so far. With Caleb Williams long gone to the NFL and USC now competing in a reloaded Big Ten that features Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon, another mediocre season could prompt USC leadership to consider a change. Especially with a new era of college football driven by playoff expansion and TV revenue, USC can’t afford to be average.

Fair or not, Riley’s coaching seat is warming up. Another 7-5 regular season? Klatt might not be the only one issuing warnings; he may just be echoing the USC boosters, who would be ready to move on.

Bottom line: Lincoln Riley needs to deliver. Style points won’t cut it. Wins will.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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