Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lincoln Riley addresses rumors about his future with USC

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Nov 8, 2025 10:53 AM ET

Lincoln Riley is aiming to have his best season at USC since he was hired by the school in 2022, but rumors have been swirling that he and the Trojans could part ways after the season. The coach offered a blunt response to that talk following his latest victory.

USC beat Northwestern 38-17 on Friday night to improve to 7-2 on the season. After the game, Riley was asked about the speculation that he might explore opportunities outside of Los Angeles when the season ends. He dismissed the idea.

Though Riley did not explicitly say he will return to USC in 2026.

"I've been underwater for the last five days, I feel like. You guys know what I sacrificed to come here," Riley said. "I'm where I need to be."

Lincoln Riley's response to rumors about him leaving @uscfb for another head coaching position ✌️ pic.twitter.com/CFhIszSLeL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025

Could USC decide to move on from Lincoln Riley?

Riley has been connected to several high-profile head coach openings in recent weeks, notably LSU and Florida. Many were stunned when Riley left Oklahoma to accept the USC job, which is one reason some believe he might try to leave the Trojans if a more attractive offer arises.

Of course, USC might also consider moving on from Riley, especially if the No. 19-ranked Trojans miss the College Football Playoff again. One ESPN analyst mentioned this possibility in an interview earlier this week.

USC is 5-1 in the Big Ten. The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams last year, giving the Trojans a better chance of making the field. They are still very much alive, even if there are doubts about whether they are a legitimate national championship contender.

Riley went 11-3 in his first season with USC in 2022. He finished with a combined 15-11 record over the next two seasons, but the program seems to be on the rise this year. A strong finish would quiet any talk of Riley being fired, though rumors about him leaving for another job are likely to continue.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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