When it comes to USC football, nostalgia and ambition often walk hand-in-hand, with a fan base that clings tightly to the glory days while keeping an impatient eye on the future. After a disappointing 7-6 season, those glory days have never felt further away. USC fans and boosters are equally upset, so much so that they may pay a massive buyout to get rid of Lincoln Riley. And one familiar face—armed with a Heisman Trophy and a strong opinion about quarterbacks—has thrown his name into the coaching ring. Reggie Bush, one of USC’s most iconic legends, made his intentions clear: “I would love to come back and be the head coach of USC at some point and help lead USC to a national championship.”

Well, that surely sounds interesting, but Bush isn’t just speaking to win over disgruntled fans. He’s pointing to specifics, particularly where the Trojans fell short. “One of the things that we didn’t see this year from the quarterback was that dual-threat component,” he said. Bush believes that for coach Riley to regain its dominance, the quarterback must become a running threat, forcing defenses to play on their heels. “I’m not saying the current guys can’t do it, but they’ve got to start running because that opens up everything.” Coming from a man who once made defenders look like they were running in quicksand, those words carry weight.

No doubt the “quarterback whisperer” has a QB dilemma, but it’s also about leadership at the top. Lincoln Riley, the highly-touted head coach, came to Los Angeles with a golden reputation. Known for producing Heisman winners and running high-octane offenses, Riley was expected to resurrect the Trojans. Yet, in 2024, USC fell woefully short of expectations, missing out on the Pac-12 Championship and falling well outside the College Football Playoff conversation. For a program that considers itself among college football’s elite, 7-6 feels like a slap in the face.

Riley’s tenure now comes with a hefty price tag in more ways than one. Signed to a 10-year, $110 million deal, his contract is among the richest in college football. With his salary set to climb to $10.5 million in 2024, plus annual raises and performance-based bonuses for conference titles or playoff appearances, USC went all-in on Riley. But here’s the kicker: if the Trojans wanted to part ways, it would cost them an estimated $88 million in buyout fees as of 2024. That’s enough cash to make even the wealthiest boosters clutch their pearls. Replacing him with Reggie Bush might sound appealing in theory, but in practice, it’s a financial Mount Everest.

The 2018 Big 12 Coach of the Year’s offense dazzled in spurts, but the consistency—and the edge—seemed missing. It’s hard not to wonder what a figure like Bush, who lives and breathes USC’s championship DNA, could bring to the program. His charisma, combined with his ability to connect with players, would undoubtedly help to recruit and reignite passion among the fan base. However, Bush’s lack of experience in that department raises serious questions about whether he’s ready to leap from the broadcast booth to the sidelines.

While his overall resume of 81-24 is glittering and his offensive schemes can be breathtaking, USC’s fan base is growing tired of unmet expectations. If Lincoln Riley doesn’t deliver soon, the calls for change will only grow louder, buyout or no buyout.

The legendary RB, “Lincoln Riley, tell your QBs to run more”

Reggie Bush didn’t shy away from pointing out a glaring issue with Lincoln Riley’s offense in 2024—a noticeable dip in scoring production. After lighting up the scoreboard with 41 points per game in 2022 and 2023, the Trojans fell to just 30 points per game last season. For a program known for its offensive fireworks, this drop was hard to ignore, and a lot of fingers were pointed at the quarterback situation.

The season began with lingering questions about Miller Moss’s mobility, and those concerns only grew as USC’s offensive line struggled to protect him. Enter former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava, who took over the starting job thanks to his more dynamic skillset. Fans hoped Maiava’s mobility would inject some life into the offense, but designed runs for him were frustratingly rare.

Maiava showed flashes of what could’ve been, with a few effective runs here and there—like his four carries against Nebraska and Notre Dame. Yet, bafflingly, he carried the ball just twice against UCLA and Texas A&M. To put it in perspective, Caleb Williams, who set the gold standard for dual-threat QBs at USC, averaged eight carries per game during his tenure. While Maiava isn’t Williams in terms of rushing ability, the lack of designed runs left fans wondering: why not lean into his strengths?