Looks like it's happening: Lincoln Riley to USC
November 28th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
Insane. Guess he likes being a big fish in a small pond.
He already had the #1 class in Norman. Imagine him recruiting at SC.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
I just read, but this is by no means verified yet, that USC is paying him $12 million a year. It was because the $12 million offer from LSU was real, and to get him away from LSU, they did offer $12 million, and he knew about it when he said he is not going to LSU. That's why he made it clear yesterday, because he had already agreed with USC.
BUT AGAIN, THAT IS NOT YET VERIFIED.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
Riley v Kelly (Chip and Brian) could be very entertaining annual theater.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
Kelly has been mailing it in at UCLA…he is awful. Oregon Chip is a different guy.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
This is an incredibly smart move by Riley.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
Can’t imagine why anyone would prefer life in Southern California to life in Norman, okla.
Actually, I can think of a thousand reasons. Smart move.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
Little late to the party …. Michigan beat OSU
November 28th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
That is a stunning hire. How many coaches has USC been through since Pete Carroll left after the 2009 season? Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron, Steve Sarkisian, and Clay Helton.
The have a winner with Lincoln Riley.
We are so fortunate: Rich Rod, Brady Hoke and Jim Harbaugh. I sure hope that he stays as long as he desires.
Our quarterback situation is resolved.
Go Blue!
November 28th, 2021 at 4:38 PM ^
Your list of coaches either were problems or no good. Reilly is not either
November 29th, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
Wow, did you ever miss the point. Did UM think they were problems or no good? They hired them because of their success at the previous team and they didn't work for us.
Who said Riley was bad? Pretty dopey.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
Rich Rod turned out poorly, and I won't rehash the reasons why, but at the time he was one of the hottest names in coaching and hard turned down the Alabama job the year prior. Saban then took it. It's a fun counter-factual: what would have happened if RR had taken the Alabama job?
November 28th, 2021 at 5:15 PM ^
He would have been fired from Alabama
November 28th, 2021 at 6:06 PM ^
It would have made for some entertaining 45-40 games but the rest of the SEC would have gashed his defense and he would have been gone in a few years.
Rich Rod is deservedly considered a college football offense guru. That little spread option thing he started and cultivated through Tulane and West Virginia now is the staple offense. That is on par with what Clark Shaughnessy did to popularize the T formation and Emory Bellard & Darrell Royal did with the Wishbone - in their eras, nearly all of the major teams were running their base formation and plays.
BUT Rich Rod has shown and not even his most die hard defenders can honestly contest this point, that he does not have much interest in defense. He'd rather outscored the opponent rather than stop them. This is sort of like that Loyola Marymount basketball team under Paul Westhead - shoot quick and shoot often and outscore your opponent - don't worry about floor balance, rotating back etc.
Football has three elements: offense, defense, and special teams. Rich Rod was only interested in one element and unfortunately as head coach diverted the resources and attention to that one part.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:35 PM ^
I was hoping the USC job would stay unfilled for a few more weeks so that they couldn't get back into it for Domani Jackson. Now it's more enticing for him to stay home with a big name coach there. Having to climb over Bama was hard enough. Also may have to be at least a little concerned that they could get back into it with Conerly too.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
And the universe is back to normal with Bama, Michigan,OSU, Oklahoma, and USC back at the top. Texas, your move.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Nebraska will be back next year too.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:38 PM ^
You could say that again.
November 28th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
Back as in technically playing football? No doubt.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Nebraska will be back next year too.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Nebraska will be back next year too.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Nebraska will be back next year too.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Nebraska will be back next year too.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:39 PM ^
Kidding.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
How does this help our recruiting? Were there any top recruits that we can pick up from OU?
November 28th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
It probably hurts because it will be harder to pull California kids. Oklahoma has the #1 2023 class but a bunch of those are California guys
November 28th, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
That'll hurt Clemson, Bama, and OSU more than Michigan.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
And Notre Dame. They love to pull from there since USC has been down
November 28th, 2021 at 5:20 PM ^
Could also have a net positive as its gets harder for everyone to get top California prospects while Michigan still has its appeal to Californians in general
November 28th, 2021 at 4:47 PM ^
Lincoln Riley is great recruiter but a pretty meh game day coach. So this doesn't really move the needle for me, especially since USC pretty much recruits itself. He'll likely be winning the PAC 12; regularly but still flaming out in the CFP semifinals like he did at Oklahoma.
However, Oklahoma is really screwed unless they can pry Heupel out from Knoxville. Nobody from outside will want that job as they head to the SEC. Well, except maybe Mel Tucker.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
He wasn't making the playoffs with regularity in the SEC and kids were leaving CA a lot lately.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:51 PM ^
Well, he wasnt lying when last night he said he wasnt going to LSU.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
Josh Huepel to Oklahoma...breaking Tennessee fans hearts. As he should.
Actually, I don't think he leaves, his AD brought him there. That's tough to break that loyalty.
Sonny Dykes want to reconsider TCU?
Fickell has to end up at one of these schools...he's never going to get a better shot. And he's not going to have a better team.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
Heupel is a Sooner alum. He'd absolutely come back if "Mama called."
Whether he's actually a good coach is another story. But Tennessee getting stiffed yet again would be hilarious. The Curse of Phil Fulmer.
November 28th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
I gotta feel for Vols fans. What they've dealt with in Bama and numerous coaching changes feels too familiar.
November 28th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
My inner paranoid voice considers this a threat to keeping Sherrone Moore & Courtney Morgan on the staff.
I'm also curious how the move impacts Roy Manning.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:00 PM ^
"schefty" is now reporting that oklahoma is targeting riley's fellow overrated twerp, kliff kingsbury, to be the next koach.
"schefty's" source is almost certainly kliff kingsbury or his agent, since pretty much all the dude does at this point is transcribe texts.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
Time for the Sooners to rethink their bold move to become the Nebraska of the SEC.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
One of the hallmarks of the NC-quality USC teams under McKay, Robinson, and Carroll was ferocious defense. I've never seen that from Riley's teams.
November 28th, 2021 at 5:09 PM ^
What about Domani Jackson?
November 28th, 2021 at 5:19 PM ^
Pay coach Moore asap!
November 28th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
that's a helluva blow to Oklahoma....
Can't imagine how though it will be to compete in the SEC... will be interesting to see who they hire....
November 28th, 2021 at 5:34 PM ^
I like that he said he would not be the next coach at LSU when asked, and apparently, he was absolutely correct in telling people this - he will not be. Wrong conference altogether and everything.
Superb work in the coach-speak department by Lincoln Riley.