USC’s situation with Lincoln Riley does not have to end in the usual blunt way. It is not just a question of whether the Trojans keep him or eat the whole buyout and move on. There is another path, at least in theory: Riley could want a reset, another program could want him, and the sides could work out a separation that makes the math easier for USC.
That idea came up on the USC LAFB Show, and it is exactly that - a possibility, not a report that anything is already in motion. Still, with the pressure around USC building, it is the kind of scenario worth keeping an eye on.
The immediate football picture matters too. After the loss to Wisconsin, USC is 6-2 and does not have much margin left.
A strong close would change the conversation fast. If the Trojans win out and then turn in a competitive playoff showing, Riley would have a far better case to stay.
Another stumble, though, would only crank up the noise about where the program is headed.
There is also a fit question here that goes beyond whether Riley can coach. The show argues that he could be a good coach and still not be the right fit for USC in the Big Ten. His offense helped Oklahoma reach the College Football Playoff three times, and a return to the Big 12 could give him a cleaner shot at recreating that kind of success in a setting that suits him better.
That is where the Texas angle comes in. Riley’s roots are there.
He grew up in Texas, played at Texas Tech, and started his coaching career in the state. That makes a move back to that part of the country feel natural in the discussion, even if nothing is set.
Three programs were mentioned as possible landing spots, though they are all in very different places.
Baylor is the most immediate one in the mix after the announced dismissal of Dave Aranda. The show pointed to reporting that Baylor wants an offensive-minded coach with Texas ties, and Riley checks both boxes. That makes the Bears the clearest opening to monitor right now.
TCU is another name that came up, but only conditionally. The video raised questions about Sonny Dykes’ future, while making clear that an opening there and interest in Riley should not be treated as established facts. The logic, if a job did open, would be similar to Baylor’s: Texas ties, offensive credentials, and Big 12 familiarity.
Texas Tech is the most personal connection and the most speculative idea of the three. Joey McGuire is still the coach, and nothing in the video says a change is underway. The discussion instead focused on whether influential financial backer Cody Campbell might push in a different direction if the season does not meet expectations.
The buyout piece is where the idea gets interesting for USC. In broad terms, a negotiated exit could reduce what the Trojans would owe compared with simply firing Riley outright. The video referenced a roughly $70 million buyout figure, while also making clear that the exact mechanics are unknown.
That does not mean another school would just hand USC the full amount. Any arrangement would depend on Riley’s contract, the negotiations, and whether everyone involved wants to make it work.
Competition could matter too. If more than one school had interest, one of them might prefer to strike a deal rather than wait for Riley to hit the open market.
That is a possible incentive, not proof that talks are happening.
The show also pointed to USC basketball’s Andy Enfield leaving for SMU as a comparison. In that case, a coaching relationship had run its course, another school provided a landing spot, and USC moved on to Eric Musselman. It is only an example of how a separation can happen, not evidence that Riley’s situation would play out the same way.
For now, the important things to watch are simple: whether USC finishes strong, how Baylor’s search develops, whether TCU’s job opens, whether Texas Tech actually makes a change, and whether any credible reporting ever ties Riley to any of those openings. A mutual split would take more than USC wanting out. Riley would need a destination, and another program would have to want him enough to help make the deal possible.
In Other News...
Former Trojan Helped Expose A USC Problem Fans Will Hate
USCs trip to Wisconsin turned into the kind of night that can linger with a fan base, especially when a familiar face was part of the damage. Former Trojan Bryan Jackson, now with the Badgers, scored a first-half touchdown against his old team as Wisconsin rolled past No. 16 Southern California 24-7, while Colton Joseph added a touchdown pass and the defense kept piling on with takeaways and a blocked field goal attempt.
The performance exposed an issue USC supporters have seen before and probably did not want to revisit on the road: a running game that never got going and a passing attack that helped dig the Trojans into a hole with two first-half interceptions. Against a Wisconsin team that controlled the game on both sides, USC never found enough answers to keep pace, and the loss left more questions than comfort for a program trying to steady itself in a tough conference race. [Read more 🡒]
USC's Wisconsin Loss Brought Back Familiar Problems Fans Feared
The bye week was supposed to help USC reset, but the trip to Wisconsin instead brought back the same frustrations that have lingered through too many uneven stretches this season. For a half, the defense gave the Trojans a chance, mixing in sacks and tackles for loss while holding down the Badgers on the ground, and it looked like USC might be able to turn a rugged road game into the kind of grind-out win it has often struggled to find.
Instead, the offense never offered enough support. Turnovers and an ineffective running game kept USC from building momentum, and once the defense started to wear down in the second half, Wisconsin took control and pulled away to a 24-7 win. It was the sort of loss that leaves the Trojans not just disappointed with the result, but uneasy about how familiar the script felt once the game started to slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Put USC In A Brutal New Conversation
USCs latest setback in Madison only sharpened the questions already hanging over the program. The Trojans were handled 24-7 at Wisconsin in a game defined by an offense that never found its rhythm, and with two losses already on the season, the margin for error is disappearing fast as the schedule turns toward a brutal stretch against ranked opponents.
Lincoln Riley brought a playoff reputation to USC, but the conversation around his tenure has shifted in an uncomfortable direction. His 5-15 record against top-25 teams is becoming a talking point again, and if the Trojans cannot climb back into College Football Playoff contention, the speculation about his job security figures to get louder rather than fade. [Read more 🡒]