Is Lincoln Riley on hot seat? Closer look at USC's Week 6 loss to Minnesota

Lincoln Riley's job stock suffered a huge hit on Saturday as the No. 11 USC Trojans lost 24-17 to the unranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. That has raised questions about whether Riley is on the hot seat.

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Is Lincoln Riley on the hot seat?

This wasn’t a serious question before the 2024 college football season started, but it was on the back of everyone’s mind, given the horrific 8-5 season in 2023. Riley, who left Oklahoma to avoid the pressures of the SEC, may now face even greater scrutiny as USC enters a tougher conference.

Although Riley’s job is not at immediate risk, USC’s fanbase and administration expect significant improvement, especially in building depth and landing top-tier recruits.

His main criticism stems from the failure to address key coaching issues, notably his decision not to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after the Cotton Bowl defeat to the Tulane Green Wave.

He’s now playing catch-up in 2024. Riley's team is falling behind Oregon in both recruiting and transfer portal acquisitions, and the impact of wasting the 2023 season is being felt across the program.

Riley's offensive line has been a particular weakness, and changes in the coaching staff will be necessary for future success.

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Lincoln Riley's USC humbled by Minnesota Golden Gophers

USC’s woes were in front of everyone on Saturday as Lincoln Riley’s Trojans suffered a shocking 24-17 defeat to unranked Minnesota. The Trojans' sloppy play and multiple turnovers haunted them once again.

Quarterback Miller Moss threw two critical interceptions, one of which led to a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter. The top-ranked Minnesota pass defense stifled USC’s air attack. Moss completed 23-of-38 passes but managed only 200 yards, an average of 5.3 yards per attempt.

The Trojans struggled to find any offensive rhythm, with Kyron Hudson leading the receivers with just 54 yards. Last week’s breakout star Ja'Kobi Lane was limited to two catches for 13 yards.

Credit goes to Minnesota’s defense for applying constant pressure on Moss. Trojans' offensive line once again faltered in pass protection, just like week 5 against the Wisconsin Badgers, which had them scrambling 21-10 at halftime.

Moss was forced to hurry throws all night, limiting USC’s ability to move the chains. One bright spot for USC was running back Woody Marks. The 24-year-old posted 134 rushing yards and a touchdown.