With USC's College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread after a second loss, and plenty of speculation about his future, coach Lincoln Riley said he remains convinced he is the right person to lead the program. "Listen, if I didn't want to be at this place, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. I've had plenty of opportunities to leave," Riley said after Tuesday's practice. "This is the right place for me. I'm the right person to be here."
Riley, in Year 5 at USC, has yet to lead the Trojans to a CFP berth or win a conference title. He kept his focus on the next opponent, Ohio State on Saturday, but balked at the idea that he might fit better elsewhere. "I love it here," he said. "There's not many people in college football history that gave up what I gave up to come here."
Riley also addressed his relationship with athletic director Jen Cohen, who did not hire him. He downplayed any disconnect and described Cohen as "incredibly supportive," calling their relationship "fantastic." USC has recruited the No. 1 class in the country this year and opened a $200 million facility, yet results have not matched expectations. A 24-7 loss to Wisconsin, the lowest offensive output of any Riley-coached team, followed a defeat to Oregon. His record since taking the job stands at 41-20.
With Ohio State, defending champion Indiana and undefeated UCLA still ahead, the Trojans likely need to win out to change the tenor of the season. Riley pointed to his time at Oklahoma, when fans wanted him run out of town after an early loss, only to praise him after a Big 12 title and playoff berth. "My job is to stay steady," he said.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing