Is Lincoln Riley still the golden ticket USC thought he was when they first offered that decade-money contract? That’s the question haunting every dude Trojan fan as their once-glorified head coach now finds himself firmly planted on that hot seat. After a rocky 6-6 season and a humiliating loss to Notre Dame (49-35), Riley’s tenure feels less like a touchdown and more like a fumble for USC. Add to that a $408 million investment—including his $90 million buyout—and USC seems trapped in a nightmare with no easy way out.

On December 2, John Middlekauff and Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back on The Colin Cowherd Podcast while discussing the situation down at USC. Colin went off: “It’s interesting they can’t get rid of Lincoln Riley. He had his contract turned over, so it’s 9 years, $90 million left. They just put $300 million into the facilities, their collective is up to $18 million… USC is not gonna but Riley out. It’s not the SEC.”

It’s not just about money, though. Riley’s lack of cultural impact at USC is screaming. Cowherd pointed out that at Oklahoma, Riley inherited a well-oiled machine from Bob Stoops and went 55-10 during his tenure and coached 2 Heisman. Crazy work there. “He was handed an Oklahoma program, and the culture was set. He was very clever.” But at USC? He’s struggling to create a winning culture. Sure, his offensive scheme worked magnificently in year one, all thanks to Caleb Williams for carrying that offense. But what’s the point? They lost to Tulane in the post-season. Since then, the cracks in the foundation are widening.

“He goes to USC, and he doesn’t really have to build a culture because Caleb Williams is so much better than everyone else in the conference. And they win 11 games. The following year, about halfway through, you’re like, ‘Wow, they have to replace the defensive staff.'” Here’s a real kicker for you: The Trojans are regressing. Diabolically, down badly.

Colin highlighted how the team has consistently declined every 6 games since Riley’s takeover. “They’re just not getting players,” he stated the problem. Yes, they have some young talents, but it’ll take a while to develop. Their defensive line lacks depth, and the offense, once electric, now looks painfully average.

“He’s gotten stubborn on the offensive coaching. They just don’t have any good offensive players. Forgettable running backs, forgettable tight ends; don’t have any tackles.” Their wide-out lacks hands where it matters. “They’re not a very good football team. That’s bad coaching,” Colin argued. The sharp drop from an 11-1 debut season to a middling 6-6 record in year three isn’t just disappointing—it’s a full-blown crisis.

USC’s recruiting woes under Lincoln Riley

Riley’s biggest problem? Recruiting and not able to develop draft-caliber players. “They don’t have good enough talent,” Colin said bluntly. “What I’m hearing is he’s alienated LA high school coaches. Their LA recruiting stinks. So USC is trapped here. They can’t buy him out.” Their running backs can’t even rush 6 yards without getting rocked, crazy-underwhelming tight ends, and a glaring lack of draft-worthy players have turned USC’s roster into a shadow of its former glory.

Outside of their left tackle Elijah Paige, the offensive line is running on thin ice, and the defensive side is even worse. Recruiting in talent-rich Los Angeles should be a slam dunk, but Riley’s reportedly frosty relationship with local high school coaches has stifled their pipeline. And the hits keep coming. “They have one nice draftable running back in three years—he’s leaving,” Colin added. On defense? Barely any NFL prospects.

Notre Dame, a rival that Riley’s team should’ve matched stride-for-stride, has far more depth and talent. The Fighting Irish HC Marcus Freeman is now 3-1 against the Trojans. USC thought they were getting a steal with Riley’s 10-year contract, but now it’s looking like a multi-million-dollar misstep.

USC’s predicament isn’t just about losing games- it’s about losing identity. Riley was supposed to bring Oklahoma’s magic to Los Angeles, but instead, the Trojans are stuck in Mediocrity. Trapped by a massive contract, below-average recruiting, and a coach who seems unwilling to adapt, USC faces a harsh reality: rebuilding might require more than just time—it might need a miracle, and the coach needs to be out.