When Lincoln Riley waltzed into sunny Southern California in late 2021, fresh off a jaw-dropping 55-10 record at Oklahoma, USC fans thought they had struck gold. Riley was supposed to be the guy to restore the Trojans’ shine and bring a national title back to the land of Hollywood dreams. And for a hot second, it seemed like he might. An 11-3 record in his first season, a Heisman Trophy for Caleb Williams, and a finish that had fans thinking, “This might just be it.” But like every classic rise-and-fall saga, the cracks started to show.

Fast forward now, Lincoln Riley walks around with an alarm ticking on his head. USC had a mass exodus under Lincoln Riley’s offensive masterclass 101. And now, those cracks? They’re canyon-deep.

Last season had USC fans waking up in cold sweats. The Trojans barely scraped by with a 7-6 record, finishing ninth in the Big Ten—a conference they only just joined. To say Riley is on the hot seat might be an understatement. He’s essentially cooking over an open flame. JK, host of the “Big Ten Huddle” podcast, didn’t mince words on January 25th: “USC entered the Big Ten this last year, and now Lincoln Riley faces a daunting challenge. After a mass exodus in the transfer portal, they have lost more players than they were able to bring in this year.” Yeah, it’s bad.

How bad? Let’s talk losses….

Star wide receivers Zachariah Branch, Deuce Robinson, and Kyron Hudson? Gone. Zachariah Branch took his talents to Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs along with his 4-star safety big bro, Zion Branch; the 5-star Duce Robinson dipped to Florida State, and Hudson’s strutting his stuff at Penn State. Losing a star receiver is rough. Losing 3? It’s a football apocalypse. And then there’s the offensive line exodus.

Five—yes, five—linemen packed their bags, leaving Riley scrambling to plug gaps with DJ Wingfield from Purdue and J’Onre Reed from Syracuse Orange. JK summed it up perfectly: “With five key offensive linemen departing, this group needs much more reinforcement.” Translation? USC’s trenches are looking thinner than a Hollywood star on diet.

If you thought the defense would save the day, think again. Historically bad doesn’t even cover it. The Trojans’ defense was a turnstile last season, and the departures of linebackers and edge rushers haven’t helped. On the bright and optimistic side—if you squint hard enough—defensive coordinator Dan Lin is sticking around. “His continued presence offers an opportunity to evaluate not just the positions that need filling but the specific skill sets required,” JK said.

Sure, but the clock’s ticking, and USC needs more than a plan—they need action. Like, yesterday.

Lincoln Riley’s only savior: spring portal

The spring transfer window, running from April 16 to April 25, looms large for Riley and the Trojans. It’s not just an opportunity—it’s a lifeline. On3’s Pete Nakos even listed USC among the ten teams that absolutely have to crush the spring portal. “The spring window can do a lot of good things for you,” JK noted. “Or it can do a whole lot of nothing.” For USC, “a whole lot of nothing” ain’t an option.

So far, this transfer portal haul ain’t helping either. They’ve added just 1 wide receiver: Boise State transfer Prince Strachan, a 3-star junior who’s clocked 304 receiving yards and a lone touchdown. Solid, but not exactly superstar material. Meanwhile, names like Romero Ison, Corey Simms, and Tanook Hines—all four-star recruits—are joining the roster, but their potential impact remains a question mark. Can they step up to fill the shoes of Branch, Robinson, and Hudson? That’s the multimillion-dollar question, or $110 million question, to be specific.

Welcome to the Big Ten, where competition is fierce, and excuses don’t fly. USC’s 15th-ranked recruiting class doesn’t exactly scream “powerhouse,” and their portal ranking—66th overall—is downright embarrassing for a program with USC’s history. California’s a goldmine of high school talent, yet Riley’s struggles to connect with local coaches have turned that pipeline into a drip. It’s baffling—the talent is practically in USC’s backyard, but they’re losing it to out-of-state programs like Oregon, Bama, Ohio, and Georgia.

The 2025 season is make-or-break for Lincoln Riley. If he doesn’t turn things around, his sunny California dream could turn into a Hollywood nightmare. As JK put it, “The spring transfer window will be critical for USC. It could either help them address their needs effectively or leave them lagging further behind. For USC, this window represents a pivotal moment to avoid falling behind in the Big Ten race.”

USC needs depth, and they need it fast. The offensive line, the defense, the receiving corps—it’s all up for grabs. Riley has to go all-in this spring, or he’ll be the one packing his bags next. For a guy who came to USC with so much hype. This fall from grace has been a hard one to watch. But hey, Hollywood loves a good redemption story. The question is, does Lincoln Riley have the script for one?