"The place to be": Lincoln Riley shares warm snap with wife Caitlin from Lakers arena

After chaotic days that saw 19 USC players enter the transfer portal this season, Lincoln Riley couldn't help but reflect on a simpler era in college football - when teams had equal scholarship limits, bonds were built in living rooms and decisions weren’t driven by money.

While his program faced a massive shake-up, Riley shared a calm moment with wife Caitlin Buckley courtside at a Lakers game. In an Instagram story on Thursday, Riley shared a photo where he wore a black hoodie, while Caitlin was dressed in white. The caption read:

“LET’S GO LAKERS”

Another snap showed the couple seated courtside with a packed arena behind them, labeled:

“The place to be”

Caitlin, a Lubbock, Texas native and fellow Texas Tech alum, shares a birthday with Riley – Sept. 5, 1983. Despite the attention that comes with her husband’s high-profile role, she keeps a low profile and rarely steps into the spotlight.

Meanwhile, USC fans have reason to worry. Four of the 10 offensive players with the most snaps this season have hit the portal, including three of their top five receivers.

Lincoln Riley praises newcomers as key additions to USC’s secondary

Coach Lincoln Riley isn’t hiding his excitement about two new faces in the Trojans’ defensive backfield: DJ Harvey and Bishop Fitzgerald.

After losing four of five starters in the secondary, USC turned to the transfer portal and landed Harvey, a cornerback from San Jose State, and Fitzgerald, a safety from NC State. Both transfers were brought in to start immediately, and they’re already turning heads in spring camp.

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Harvey brings experience, having spent two years at Virginia Tech before transferring to San Jose State. Fitzgerald, who started at NC State, adds toughness and versatility to the back end.

At cornerback, redshirt senior DeCarlos Nicholson and redshirt freshman Marcelles Williams are locked in a tight battle to line up opposite Harvey. Williams, a four-star recruit out of St. John Bosco (Calif.), has made a strong impression and will challenge Nicholson throughout the spring.

Also Read: "The feeling you couldn't ignore was money": Football fans react to Lincoln Riley's USC Class of 2026 WR commit Kohen Brown

About the author

Mohammad Asif Ansari is a journalist covering college football and basketball at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Technology and brings four years of experience as an NFL and EdTech writer.

While acknowledging the dominance of professional leagues like the NBA and NFL, Asif is drawn to the raw energy and unpredictability of college sports, particularly football and basketball.

Jalen Hurts stands out as Asif's all-time favorite college player, celebrated for his remarkable success on the football field and impressive leadership skills.

In his reporting, Asif seeks to capture the essence of college athletics, delving into the human stories behind the game. From the trials and triumphs of student-athletes to the strategic genius of coaches like Nick Saban, he strives to paint a vivid picture of the college sports landscape.

Asif ensures that his reporting is both informative and ethically sound, meticulously verifying sources and facts to provide readers with reliable and trustworthy content.

When not writing, Asif practices basic MMA, hones his biking skills and expands his language proficiency in Urdu and Arabic.

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Edited by Bhargav