After a 3-4 start, and four blown 4th quarter leads, many USC Trojans fans are ready to pull the plug on the Lincoln Riley era.
While it is easy to argue that there has been progress made, it is also very easy to know that in Year 3, this team should not be sitting under .500, with losses to Minnesota and Maryland and zero road wins (LSU was a neutral site).
However, for those that do want to just rip the band-aid off, and start fresh, again, the reality is that financially, there is almost no way that is possible.
Lincoln Riley Has A Massive Buyout
On the College Gameday Podcast, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Lincoln Riley’s buyout will make it nearly impossible for USC to move on anytime in the near future. His buyout number, according to Thamel, is roughly $90 million.
Because USC is a private university, all staff contracts are kept private and not released to the public, but I doubt Thamel would just make that number up.
“People are unhappy about USC,” Thamel explained. “My sources told me this week that Lincoln Riley would be owed $90 million if you were going to fire him. Right around $90 million. That’s like Jimbo (Fisher) super-sized buyout. It feels like those two are a little bit stuck with each other right now, Lincoln Riley and USC.”
Regardless of donor buy-in, literally, that number is astronomical, especially during a time when it would be extremely beneficial to use those funds for things like NIL and the new facility.
Unless the wheels completely fall off and Lincoln Riley loses the locker room, he will have the remainder of this year and next year to really turn this thing around. And next year it will be College Football Playoff or bust.
Currently, the USC Trojans lead Rutgers 28-12 with the 2nd half about ready to kick off. A step in the right direction would be for this team to finish out a game and get back to .500.