Paul Finebaum rips apart USC HC Lincoln Riley after Trojan's disappointing 2024 season 

Paul Finebaum has been a staple of collegiate football for decades, and the analyst has seen many eras come and go. Finebaum's opinion in the modern media holds some weight, especially when he "goes off" on his personal platform.

Here's a closer look at what the veteran CFB analyst had to say about USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley's 2024.

Speaking on the "Paul Finebaum Show," he said (via Athlon Sports):

"It is difficult to imagine somebody doing a worse job than Lincoln Riley has out there."

This comes less than a week after the Trojans recorded a 19-13 win over the UCLA Bruins. However, the win didn't seem to please Finebaum, who believes Riley is performing well below the standards expected from him at the CFB powerhouse Trojans.

How have Lincoln Riley and USC Trojans performed in 2024?

Lincoln Riley joined the USC Trojans after an impressive spell with the Oklahoma Sooners. He won four Big 12 championships with Oklahoma and was appointed by USC with the impression that he'd have a similar impact on the side. However, that has yet to be the case.

The Trojans go into Week 14 of the college football season with a 6-5 record, barely securing bowl game eligibility in the process. They've recorded disappointing losses to the Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins and Washington Huskies. It's a far cry from Riley's first season with the Trojans, which saw them go 11-3.

While many may agree with Paul Finebaum's comments, it's important to note the changing climate of collegiate football. With NIL deals and more money in the system, many teams can now stack their rosters with previously inaccessible talent. Hence, the USC job might be more complex than what Riley did at Oklahoma.

Last time out, the Trojans beat the UCLA Bruins in an all-Los Angeles contest 19-13 at Rose Bowl.

The Trojans close out their regular season with a home game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LA Memorial Coliseum. Of course, the Fighting Irish are significant favorites ahead of the matchup due to their 10-1 record.

A win over Notre Dame could give Riley some ammunition against his biggest detractors as he heads into a fourth and very important year with the Trojans.

What do you think of Paul Finebaum's comments on Lincoln Riley? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.