zach to school Zach Braziller Lincoln Riley has hit his USC low point — now the clock is ticking By Zach Braziller Published Sep. 27, 2026, 3:10 p.m. ET Lincoln Riley head coach of the Southern California Trojans during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on September 19, 2026 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images It’s easy to forget now because of what’s happened since his arrival, but Lincoln Riley was supposed to be a sure thing.
This was a coach who developed two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks, led Oklahoma to 55 wins in 65 games, and took them to College Football Playoff three times.
He was the no-brainer of all no-brainers, a hire universally praised. The coach who was going to make USC matter again on a national scale — be a present-day Pete Carroll.
Instead, with a record of 6-14 against ranked teams, he has resembled a West Coast version of James Franklin.
