Sign up Lincoln Riley as their HC for a 10-year contract worth $110 million, and regret it later. That’s how the USC Trojans journey has been so far. Looks like the HC seat has already heated up. But that’s not how the Trojans had planned their Big Ten debut to go. The Week 10 loss against the Washington Huskies now makes their losing record 4-5. As Riley now has only three games remaining in this season, CFB analyst Josh Pate comes with another reality check on the HC’s lingering struggles that might cut his long stint short. Well, this time it’s not all about his faltering team but the struggling coaching staff, that’s going to test the USC fans’ patience. 

November 2 turned out to be an ominous day for the Trojans as they got crushed by the Washington Huskies 26-21. The blow has been so vivid that even Riley confessed, “I don’t handle losing very well. It hasn’t happened much in my career. That part of it is unacceptable.” But when the HC replaced Bob Stoops in 2017, the program pinned high hopes on him. But cut two, 2024, analyst Pate points out the harsh reality, “The Lincoln Riley job approval numbers are troubling sitting around 55% approval rating right now.”

It’s not that the HC did not take action in its due time. He did. But it turned out to be nothing but wrong moves. When Riley 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 when HC fired everyone on the defensive staff only to be left with four to five and that too as Pate raises concern “doesn’t look good.” According to the analyst, “He didn’t hire right in the beginning. Alex Grinch should never have been the defensive coordinator.” That’s true, right USC fans? 

Under Grinch, the Trojans’ defense struggled dipping to the worst rank in the country as they gave up 52 points and 572 yards in one of the face-offs against Washington. His scheme looked confused and complicated and the fundamentals were poor. And who is to blame for USC landing in a soup? “The problem is Lincoln Riley allowed it to happen he is responsible,” Pate came with a bold claim. And what is the HC going to do about that? Well, nothing much. The analyst came with a warning for the Trojans fans, “I said it’s going to take a while I don’t know if they have the patience out there for it.” But looks like the name for Riley’s replacement is already doing rounds.    

USC Trojans in search of a Midas to replace Lincoln Riley

Obviously, given the current situation, if given a chance, USC would like to get rid of Lincoln Riley at the earliest. And who are the candidates that may likely take up the Trojans HC’s hot seat? The first one on the list is Curt Cignetti. After spreading his magic leading James Madison to an impressive 11-1 season in 2023, Cignetti has shown his charm by gifting the 8th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers an undefeated 9-0 streak. 

Next up is none other than the Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal. The ex-Oregon HC has helped the Hurricanes to return to the top of college football. The rich experience that Cristobal carries with him after his successful stints in Oregon and Miami is exactly what the Trojans are in need of at the moment to rebuild themselves. And here comes the third option.

The Iowa State Cyclones have been under Matt Campbell since 2016 and guess what? The HC is experiencing his best season in charge. The No.17 program has dropped only one game that shows the HC’s power to transform a program. Now that hot backups are ready to step into Lincoln Riley’s shoes, is it an early time-out for him? Let your opinion pour in!