Is Lincoln Riley Eyeing a Surprising Power 4 Coaching Comeback?

Lincoln Riley arrived in Los Angeles with grand plans, only to find the Big Ten landscape waiting for him—something he didn’t quite bargain for back in 2021. Now, it feels like the well might be running dry at USC. But while the Trojans still boast the tantalizing allure of a top-tier 2026 recruiting class, there’s chatter—loud and persistent—about other Power Four gigs that could be tempting the crafty coach for a fresh start. It’s a crossroads that’s got the Southern California sports scribes buzzing, asking: if Riley packs up, where might he head next? From LSU’s recruiting powerhouse to Florida’s offensive needs, the options are many, but each comes with its own drama and uncertainties. As the dust settles on recent vacancies, one thing’s clear—Lincoln Riley’s next move, if any, could reshape the college football map in ways we’re only beginning to imagine. LEARN MORE

Lincoln Riley may have gotten as much as he could with USC, especially since this program is in the Big Ten, something he didn’t expect when he came to Los Angeles in 2021. There are many Power Four jobs that could catch his eye, and other programs could provide him a much-needed fresh start. Lincoln Riley has at least the 2026 recruiting class next season to keep him at USC, but with current vacancies, he might not want to wait.

In our Southern California Football Roundtable, the writers at Trojans Wire and UCLA Wire discuss the options for Lincoln Riley should he leave USC for another program. Here are our answers on what could be next for Lincoln Riley:

Editor Matt Zemek

Riley’s agent, Trace Armstrong, played at Florida. Armstrong floated Riley to LSU as a smokescreen in November of 2021 before back-channel negotiations occurred with USC. LSU is the best job on the board and Riley would frankly be foolish to not consider it. That program recruits itself in many ways, and Riley would have a better chance of winning a national title in Baton Rouge than in LA.

Trojans Wire Writer Micah Huff

I love the idea of him going to Florida. Obviously, Lane Kiffin would be the guy they want the most, but the Gators need an offensive mind. Riley has done a great job recruiting; he will get even more opportunities with that at Florida. He would solve a lot of the issues the Gators have and make them a contender in the SEC. Would they win the big games? That, however, might be another conversation.

Trojans Wire Writer Ethan Inman

Probably not. I don’t think there are many programs out there that have better resources and are a better fit for Lincoln Riley the head coach than USC right now. He has a young family that he would have to uproot. If it took him this long to figure out how to recruit and build a program at USC, why would he feel confident starting over somewhere else again? USC is a top 5 situation in the country if you are maximizing its resources. Places like LSU and Florida would make perfect sense for Lincoln Riley the offensive coordinator, but I think he wants to keep trying to be a head coach. He has the number 1 recruiting class coming in. If USC will let him, he should stick around and see this thing through.

Trojans Wire Writer Adam Bradford

It is hard to imagine another power four program wanting to hire Riley as its coach right now. That said, top programs would be lining up left and right to hire him as an offensive coordinator if it became clear that things were coming to an end for Riley at USC.

UCLA Wire Writer Ryan Lorenz

Maybe if he went to Florida or LSU, but both of those seem very unlikely. There are plenty of talented young coordinators that could have an opportunity to advance and on top of that, there have been a plethora of top coaches that are on the free market. Riley would be facing heavy competition and it would probably take a lot to pry him away from USC.

UCLA Wire Writer Dylan McNeill

LSU would be a compelling fit for Riley. Seeing Lincoln Riley in the SEC would make for a ton of drama and would be a great hire for the Tigers as they look to rebound from the Brian Kelly era. I’m not sure if Riley would leave for Florida or Penn State but they’re both possibilities as well.