Lincoln Riley on hot seat: USC coach under heavy criticism after huge loss to Big Ten rival

The USC Trojans are under fire again after a tough 26-21 loss to the Washington Huskies on Saturday. This defeat leaves the Trojans winless in their four Big Ten road games, sitting at 4-5 this season.

After a strong 42-20 win over Rutgers last week that snapped a three-game losing streak, hopes were high. But Saturday’s outcome has pushed USC’s record to a disappointing 12-12 in their last 24 games, placing coach Lincoln Riley in the hot seat of the USC Trojans.

Once again, USC couldn’t hold onto a fourth-quarter lead, letting a winnable game slip away.

"I don't handle losing very well. It hasn't happened much in my career. That part of it is unacceptable," Riley said after the game, acknowledging the sting of defeat.

His track record at Oklahoma speaks volumes — he never lost more than two games in any season over five years. But now, Riley has faced at least three losses in each of his first three seasons with the Trojans, marking back-to-back five-loss seasons for the once-dominant program.

Fans are openly criticizing his coaching choices, with one frustrated supporter on X asking:

“Will Lincoln Riley EVER drop the Mickey Mouse bullshit?! Probably not.”

“Lincoln Riley is officially a fraud,” a fan wrote. “Back to seasons with 5 losses and he may not make a bowl game. He stood on the shoulders of what Stoops built, but he can’t build on his own. This is year 3 and they are worse than year 2. Waste of 100 million.”

“I’d rather have Paul Hackett or Clay Helton at this point,” one wrote. “Lincoln Riley is the worst coach for USC in 50 years.”

“Lincoln Riley had all 4 of these guys and combined for 0 Playoff Wins, Caleb Williams never even made the Playoffs or won the Pac-12…,” College Football Report tweeted.

“Lincoln Riley single handedly burned down Oklahoma and Southern Cal all in a 4 year stretch. Impressive,” another wrote.

“It’s weird how Lincoln Riley becomes an awful coach once he doesn’t have a heisman winning QB,” a fan wrote.

Saturday’s clash showed a glimpse of resilience, though. Despite a sluggish first half, with the Trojans trailing 20-7, the team fought back in the second half. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s unit stepped up, and Riley switched his usual high-flying offense to a more physical, run-heavy approach.

Running back Woody Marks led the way with 123 rushing yards on 22 carries. But in the end, it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously, didn’t make the plays in the end to do it,” he said. “Came up one play short.”

Riley remains confident in Trojans' potential.

“I watch a team, like – it’s not like we’re getting our ass kicked, you know?” Riley said. “So, it’s not like I go back to the drawing board and it’s just, like, ‘Gah, we’re just doing this terrible, and people are just wearing us out on this or that.’ I mean, like, it’s not, it’s not that.”

The Trojans will look to regroup and make a statement when they face Nebraska on Nov. 16, aiming to break this Big Ten road drought and finish their season on a positive note.

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Lincoln Riley looking for a way to shake off late-game struggles

Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley - Source: Imagn

The USC Trojans, now back under .500, are still looking for a way to shake off their late-game struggles. They’ve leaned heavily on their passing game, putting added pressure on quarterback Miller Moss, who’s yet to deliver in clutch moments on the road.

USC’s running backs have shown their potential, but chances to make an impact were scarce in the first half.

“For us right now, what we’re looking at is what is the best lineup, the best people to help us win each and every week,” Riley said (as per Annenberg Media logotype).

Despite the challenges, Riley brushed off any plans to replace Moss with backup quarterback Jayden Maiava.

The Trojans won’t leave Southern California for the rest of the season. After an open week, they’ll host Nebraska (5-4, 2-3), then wrap up with rivalry games against UCLA (3-5, 2-4) and Notre Dame (7-1).

The break gives USC time to regroup, but with bowl season still on the line, there’s no room to fade away yet.