Do the college football head coaches only want to chart the easier course? Well, we have seen that in spring games. Programs like the Nebraska Cornhuskers and, Ohio State Buckeyes had closed the gates in fear of poaching. While this questioned their potential and loyalty, right now, a current contract between the blueblood programs is now stirring the pot. The potential end to the storied USC Trojans–Notre Dame Fighting Irish football series is looming. Every season, this has been a ritual for them to face off for one of the most historic rivalries in college football. It dates back to 1926. However, one of the head coaches with the $90 million buyout wants to opt out. And this made a college football analyst upset, who urged him to step down. So whose seat got hotter?
That’s none other than Lincoln Riley. Right now, college football fans are eager to know about the future of the USC Trojans–Notre Dame Fighting Irish football series. That’s when Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua broke his silence. “I think Southern Cal and Notre Dame should play every year for as long as college football is played, and SC knows that’s how we feel.” While fans might be happy to find this out, after getting betrayed in the spring games, Riley chose to rain on their parade. USC is seeking to cancel its century-long series. USC is only interested in extending the series one season at a time. The October 18 game in South Bend is the last one in the current contract. So, what’s Riley and co.’s demand?
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The Trojans are waiting to see whether the Big Ten will get four automatic qualifiers to the College Football Playoff. They want flexibility until then. This needed some in-depth discussion. On the May 21 episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, host Josh Pate shared his take. And clearly, he was upset with Riley. “The head coach at USC should never have the power to influence whether they play Notre Dame or not every year…cause those come and go, we’ve had dozens of head coaches and athletic directors at these respective institutions, and yet they’ve played this game 95 times since 1924. Do you want to know what’s canceled this game since 1924?” The game has been cancelled only twice since 1924. Once during World War II and for the second time during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Pate threw a shade at Riley, stating, “‘Worried we may not make the playoffs because we’re nine and three instead of 10 and two.’ Cancels the game, one of those is not like the other. Pathetic.” It’s either of the two ways with no middle ground. As Pate shared, “You know what? If you don’t like that, then guess what, you don’t have to take the job. It is the USC head coaching job after all, it is the USC athletic director job after all.” It’s high time that Riley strengthens his boys by scheduling up instead of scheduling down. Meanwhile, Riley is having a hard time saving his job.
No room for error for Lincoln Riley
The Trojans’ head coach caught the side eye from one of the most critical men in college football. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said following the 2024 regular season. “Would someone in California explain to me why Lincoln Riley, as of almost noon, is still the head coach of (USC)?” He further thought of fueling the hate. “What has he done? He had the one season with Caleb Williams. Last year I thought that was a disaster, but then again, I forgot about this season.” Gone are those days when Riley was the most sought-after head coach in college football.
When USC hired Riley, it was the largest contract in coaching at $10.1 million. Right now, he holds the No.6 rank among the highest-paid college coaches. Even though his contract runs through 2031, Riley gets to live up to the standards. Roster construction was Riley’s single biggest error in 2024. In all, USC allowed 22 quarterback pressures, the most since he became the head coach.
So, going by the buzz, many are for Riley’s job with the buyout figures around $90 million doing the rounds. The pitchforks are already out for Riley. When he took the reins, the Trojans were 4-18, and a year later they went 11-3, but then again USC dipped to 8-5. That’s because he made some faulty moves. For instance, hired Alex Grinch, who should never have been the defensive coordinator. Riley’s margin for error is gone—every move from here on out could be the one that defines his coaching fate.
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