You ever seen a house of cards start shaking before it falls? That’s where Lincoln Riley’s USC program is at right now. When Riley dipped from Oklahoma and landed in Los Angeles, folks thought he was about to turn USC into a full-blown Heisman factory. Year 1? Man cooked. Went 11-3, turned Caleb Williams into a Heisman, and had everybody thinking the Trojans were back. Fast forward to 2024? That same USC squad just crawled out of a 7-6 season, got worked in the Holiday Bowl, and now the head coach—who was once untouchable—might be fighting for his job amid Jayden Maiava and freshman Husan Longstreet dilemma.

And if you need confirmation that things are getting ugly, just listen to B1G insider Craig Shemon, who didn’t hold back on his ‘Locked On Big 10’ podcast on February 18th. Shemon flat-out said, “Lincoln Riley needs to make some changes at USC. He’s not going to be there much longer.” And what’s the big fix? Well, according to Shemon, Riley needs to follow in Ryan Day’s footsteps and give up play-calling if he wants to survive in the Big 10.

Look, Lincoln Riley’s whole rep is built on calling the plays and running the offense. This man had Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Caleb Williams all looking like Madden Create-a-Players. But lately? The offense ain’t hitting like it used to, and the defense is still a little leaky. Shemon pointed straight at Ohio State’s Ryan Day as the blueprint: “They (Ryan Day) stepped down from play-calling this year at Ohio State and handed the reins to Chip Kelly. They then dove headfirst into the name, image, and likeness collectives and put together a $2 million roster. And things seem to have worked—Ohio State is college football’s current national champion.”

That’s the cold reality: Riley’s been a one-man show for too long. He’s got an OC in Luke Huard—let that man do his job. Riley needs to focus on fixing the mess USC has turned into. Because if he doesn’t? He might not be around long enough to coach another Heisman-caliber QB.

Well, Jennifer Cohen ain’t here for mediocrity. It’s one thing for fans to be mad about a 7-6 season, but when your boss starts publicly talking about her “disappointment,” that’s when you know it’s real. USC’s Athletic Director, Jennifer Cohen, didn’t sugarcoat anything when she spoke about the program’s struggles.

She made it clear that 7-6 ain’t cutting it. Shemon translated Cohen’s comments in plain English: “She specifically said she’s not satisfied with a 7-6 record and that she’s confident recent investments will help Lincoln Riley win. Let me interpret that for you—that’s AD speak for, ‘Hey, we’re spending a lot of money here. We better start winning 10 games a year.’”

The investments Cohen is talking about ain’t small-time, either. USC went out and hired a general manager, beefed up its NIL efforts, and tried to build an elite-level support system around Riley. But at the end of the day, Cohen’s message is simple: If USC ain’t winning, those checks are gonna stop getting written. And if that happens? Well, Riley might not be around to see how that plays out.

If USC thought Cohen was just venting, she followed up with an even stronger statement. She basically hinted that if football doesn’t start pulling its weight, money might start flowing to other programs instead. And given how USC’s women’s basketball team is making noise? That might not be an empty threat. “She said USC needs to start playing at a championship level to determine how money is going to be divided throughout the athletic department,” Shemon explained. “Right now, she may want to give more money to the women’s basketball program—they’re doing so well. Football better win, or they’re not going to get all the money invested back into them.” Translation? If USC football keeps fumbling, they might not be the school’s golden child anymore. That’s a big-time warning shot from Cohen, and Riley better take it seriously. First, it starts with the 2025 QB crisis.

QB battle: Jayden Maiava vs. Husan Longstreet

As if Riley didn’t already have enough stress, now he’s got a full-blown quarterback controversy brewing. When Miller Moss got benched last season, Jayden Maiava stepped up and showed flashes of being the guy. But now, enter Husan Longstreet—a true freshman with Winter Soldier’s arm and zero interest in sitting on the bench. ROC Boys Football put it bluntly: “I don’t think there’s a more exciting storyline than the quarterback battle that we are gonna see take place between freshman Husan Longstreet and returning starter Jayden Maiava.”

Maiava’s got the experience. Longstreet’s got that raw talent. And knowing how Lincoln Riley operates? He might just let them battle it out all season long. But with the pressure Riley’s under, he better hope he picks the right guy. Because the last thing he can afford is another wasted year with the wrong QB at the helm.

Look, USC football ain’t no way to settle for 7-win seasons, and Lincoln Riley knows it. His seat is getting hotter by the day, and if he doesn’t make serious changes—like handing over play-calling duties—his time in Sunny Southern California might get cut short. Jennifer Cohen ain’t playing around; the Big Ten is looking crispy now with Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon And Riley’s got a quarterback battle on his hands that could make or break the 2025 season.

The bottom line? The excuses are running out. Riley was brought in to bring USC back to glory, not turn them into a mid-tier program. And if he doesn’t turn things around ASAP, those dark clouds over his head might just turn into a full-blown storm.