Lincoln Riley arrived at USC with the kind of reputation that follows an offensive mind everywhere he goes. He’s spent plenty of time in the spotlight, and not just because of the job titles. Riley built his name over 14 years as an assistant, climbing fast and drawing attention as a coach with a clear offensive identity.
His path wasn’t the usual blue-chip route, either. Riley played at Texas Tech as a walk-on, then stayed on as an assistant after graduation under Mike Leach.
When Ruffin McNeil took over for Leach and moved to East Carolina, Riley went with him. That move set the stage for five years running the Pirates’ offense, and the numbers kept climbing.
East Carolina’s offense averaged 437 yards per game in 2010, then dipped to 395 in 2011 before taking off again: 408 in 2012, 469 in 2013, and 533 in 2014. That stretch was enough to get Bob Stoops’ attention.
Stoops brought Riley to Oklahoma as offensive coordinator, and the Sooners kept piling up production. In Riley’s two seasons in that role, Oklahoma averaged 530 and 554 yards per game and went 23-4.
When Stoops stepped away, Riley took over as head coach and kept winning. Oklahoma won four Big XII championships from 2017 through 2020, and Riley finished 55-10 there, the highest winning percentage of any Oklahoma coach.
The Sooners won every Big XII Championship Game they played under him.
His departure from Oklahoma came with its own questions. It was reported that Riley was unhappy with the school’s move to the SEC from its longtime home in the Big XII.
OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said Riley had been “on board” with the shift to the SEC. Whatever the reason, Riley ended up at USC.
At USC, the results have been more uneven. Riley has gone 35-18 with the Trojans, including 19-8 in the Pac 12 and 16-10 in the B1G, with two seasons in each conference.
USC’s only head-to-head meeting with Rutgers and Greg Schiano came on Oct. 25, 2024, at the Coliseum, where the Trojans won 42-20 in a statistically close game. USC finished 7-6 that season, going 4-5 in the B1G, and beat Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl.
That’s the contrast around Riley now: huge offensive numbers at Oklahoma, less of a cushion at USC, and plenty of scrutiny that comes with it. The reported $90 million buyout is part of the picture, too. The people who brought him to Los Angeles are said to be growing impatient, and the word “epic failure” has even entered the conversation when people talk about him.
Greg’s USC preview framed this season as a chance for Rutgers to make a statement and grab a signature win. Whether that happens is another matter. Commenters weren’t convinced Rutgers has the ability to pull it off, and Riley has his own reasons not to let the Knights get in the way.
In Other News...
Greg Schiano Ranking Reopens A Debate Rutgers Fans Know Too Well
A fresh Big Ten coaching ranking has put Greg Schiano back under the microscope, and it is not the kind of spotlight Rutgers fans are used to seeing in a flattering way. Paul Myerberg of USA Today slotted Schiano 14th out of 18 head coaches in the league, a reminder that while his first run in Piscataway built a strong reputation, the second act has yet to deliver the kind of breakthrough that changes the conversation.
Schiano is entering year seven of that second tenure, and the broader frustration around the program is familiar: Rutgers still has not become a consistent bowl team under his watch. With Curt Cignetti sitting atop the list after Indianas National Championship win, the gap between the leagues rising programs and Rutgers place in the hierarchy feels even more obvious, and it leaves Schiano facing the same question that has followed him for years, only louder now. [Read more 🡒]
James Cocozzo Joining Rutgers Early Is Another Big Sign For Schiano
James Cocozzos decision to enroll early at Rutgers adds another layer to what has already been a strong offensive line haul for Greg Schianos 2026 class. The three-star lineman reclassified so he can get to campus ahead of schedule, giving himself a chance to start working against college-level competition and in a college training program rather than waiting for his final high school season to play out.
For Rutgers, it is another sign that the message on the recruiting trail is landing. Cocozzo picked the Scarlet Knights over several other offers, and his move gives the staff another young lineman who wants to accelerate his development in Piscataway. After missing last season because of a knee injury, he is looking for a setting that can help him keep building, and Rutgers clearly sold him on being that place. [Read more 🡒]