Coach Lincoln Riley is in an interesting spot at USC heading into 2025 season

A lot can change in the world of college sports at any moment. Certainly, USC is committed to coach Lincoln Riley, and he is not in any immediate danger of losing his job. Particularly when looking at the overall approach of this staff, it looks like he is being given the time and resources needed to ensure long-term success with the program.

Even so, a successive 6-6 regular season year will, at a minimum, force a lot of unwanted conversations to be had at serious levels.

That can be true, and it is certainly valid to not be happy with how coach Riley has done so far as the Trojans' head coach as a whole since arriving from Oklahoma. By the same token, many of the criticisms are going overboard and are seemingly forgetting how highly regarded he is in college coaching spaces.

If, for example, coach Riley were available tomorrow for any program to hire, many would look for a way to move on from their current person in charge. At the very least, he would rise to the top of a 'waitlist' for the next cycle, considering where in the calendar college football is at the moment.

That is to say that coach Riley would easily be one of the most sought-after people to run a program in the nation. Add the latest shifts on the recruiting end that people are starting to take notice, resulting in rival fan bases trying everything they can to downplay this phenomenon. A lot of schools would love to take 'a chance' on the proven coach.

Main reasons for optimism at USC

The aspect that should set coach Riley apart from most coaches who are potentially on the hot or warm seat is his ability to self-diagnose and analyze the areas of needed improvement. Combine that with his track record of winning and producing Heisman Trophy winners, and things are far from a doom and gloom scenario.

Granted, 2025 is something of a prove-it year. Even so, because of the positive developments that have happened this off-season and the ways in which coach Riley is going about looking to improve USC across all facets, Trojan wins will come. He is looking to capitalize now, though, this fall and push for annual College Football Playoff appearances.