Lincoln Riley gets ripped for his bizarre move against Penn State

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Lincoln Riley gets ripped for his bizarre move against Penn State

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Oct 10, 2026 10:18 PM ET

Lincoln Riley officially appears to have jumped the shark.

No. 19 USC played on Saturday against unranked Penn State. The two Big Ten rivals met at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.

At halftime, USC and Penn State were tied 17-17. Then during the second half kickoff, the Trojans head coach Riley tried to get a little too cute with it.

Riley bizarrely called for an onside kick to open up the half. Penn State was not fooled at all however and easily recovered the kick to set up great field position inside USC territory.

USC rolls the dice with an onside kick BUT Penn State comes away with the recovery! Big Ten Saturday Night: USC at Penn State on NBC & Peacock https://t.co/f3MTEFjmQq
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 11, 2026

As a result, Riley was thoroughly roasted over social media. Here were some of the cruelest posts at his expense.

Lincoln Riley just had his Scott Frost moment. Onside kick to start the half against this below average Penn State team. That’s where we’re at. Embarrassing.
— Gabriel Greenlee (@TheTrojanBlade) October 11, 2026

Why would Lincoln Riley try an onside kick to start the second half in a 17-17 game? Penn State recovered and is driving
— Mark Schipper – 5th Down CFB (@5thDownCFB) October 11, 2026

Lincoln Riley just tried an onside kick in a tie game and handed Penn State the ball at midfield. Man’s out here making decisions like he’s trying to speedrun a loss.
— The cfb lliason (@realfbllliason) October 11, 2026

Onside kick? Really??? There are times when I think Lincoln Riley actually wants to force a buyout. AK
— Kamenetzky Brothers (@KamBrothers) October 11, 2026

USC did manage to hold Penn State to just a field goal on the ensuing drive. But that was hardly the situation that called for that kind of dice-roll by Riley, who has been facing firing rumors for the better part of a year now that may only be growing louder.

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