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Lincoln Riley Makes Revealing Admission About Potential USC Trojans Exit
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- Lincoln Riley Makes Revealing Admission About Potential USC Trojans Exit
USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley made a revealing admission about his past and future with the program, saying he had multiple opportunities to leave but chose not to take them.
Riley addressed speculation surrounding his job after USC fell to 6-2 following a 24-7 road loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, a defeat that further complicated the Trojans' College Football Playoff outlook.
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"If I didn't want to be at this place, I wouldn't have come here in the first place," Riley said. "If I didn't want to be at this place, I have had plenty of opportunities to leave."
Riley pushed back on questions about whether he could eventually move on from USC.
"This is where I want to be," Riley said. "This is the right place for me. I am the right person to be here, and that is as honest and transparent as I can be with you guys."
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Riley has gone 41-20 since taking over USC in 2022. His first season remains his best, when the Trojans finished 11-3 with Caleb Williams at quarterback. However, USC has yet to reach the College Football Playoff during Riley's tenure.
The Trojans have a difficult closing stretch, with three of their next four games against No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Indiana and No. 7 UCLA. Riley's record against ranked opponents at USC is 5-15.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Most recently, The Athletic's Chris Vannini linked him to the Baylor Bears' coaching vacancy earlier this week.
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"Industry sources a year ago shared whispers that Riley could be interested in this job, but it didn't open," Vannini wrote. "Outside talk of the West Texas native leaving USC to return to his home state has been around for a while, whether by getting fired or by leaving on his own, which USC would likely welcome."
The Trojans host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Lane Kiffin Calls Out SEC Over Surprising Alabama-LSU Decision
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Related: Michigan Wolverines Make Bryce Underwood Move Before Rutgers Game
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
