Pat McAfee Drops Unexpected Dabo Swinney Bombshell on Lincoln Riley—What It Means for USC’s Future!

Lincoln Riley stormed into college football like a comet blazing across the night sky—winning at Oklahoma like it was child’s play, a dazzling 55-10 record, three straight playoff berths, and a Cotton Bowl trophy to boot. Yet here’s the kicker: since his move to USC, the flash has dimmed a bit, with a 35-18 mark over four seasons that’s got some folks scratching their heads. Why the dip? Well, expectations for the Trojans skyrocket again in 2026, but for Riley, the heat’s on like never before. Pat McAfee even tossed him into the same “good-but-not-feared” bucket as Dabo Swinney—yes, you read that right—and that comparison has stirred a pot full of debates. Both men have rosters loaded with talent and quarterbacks who can sling it, yet defensive woes plague their squads like an annoying ghost. It begs the question: in an era where college football’s landscape shifts beneath every coach’s feet, can Riley reinvent himself and silence the doubters, or is the Trojan hot seat inching closer? Grab a seat, ’cause this story’s far from over. LEARN MORE.

Lincoln Riley burst onto the head coaching scene with dominance at Oklahoma. He went 55-10 in five years, leading Oklahoma to the playoffs three straight seasons and also winning the Cotton Bowl. He has not had the same success at USC. He is 35-18 in four years, but once again expectations are high for USC in 2026.

With all the recent shortcomings of Riley, he is getting some comparisons to another coach, Dabo Swinney, according to Pat McAfee.

“This sounds terrible. I don’t mean it to sound this way. I put Dabo Swinney and Lincoln Riley in the same bucket. Let’s say Dabo, a little bit above him then, in that bucket, but just like, so good. So good. We’ll put Dabo above Lincoln, let me clarify that. Dabo above Lincoln. Same bucket though. So good, so good, so good,” McAfee said. “But, I mean, since we’ve been a part of college football, recent history, it’s just — not really, at all. Cade Klubnik. Had Caleb at USC. It’s always the defense for some reason. One year they couldn’t tackle anybody because they weren’t tough enough. It’s like, there’s always something.”

Despite having talented rosters and solid quarterbacks, both teams have struggled on defense. While both coaches have had past success, college football has changed, and the success has waned.

“And then for Dabo, Dabo was sticking up for football, and what college football was supposed to be for a little while,” McAfee said. “But it was like, ‘Okay, we appreciate you doing that,’ but everybody is like, just completely bypassing him. Now, he’s in the game, but he’s a bit late. Will that help his team? I mean, we shall see.”

McAfee made clear that he is not calling the two bad coaches, but they are just not the top tier.

“Both of those guys, I think, everybody thinks, ‘Good football coach,’” McAfee added. “But nobody really fears them.”

McAfee may have a point. Since the start of the 2021 season through 2025, with a minimum of three seasons coached, Dabo Swinney is ninth in win percentage. Lincoln Riley is tenth. Meanwhile, the likes of Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, Ryan Day, and Curt Cignetti have all performed better.

This year, Riley is hoping to change the perception that he cannot win the big game. If he cannot do it, Riley may be on the hot seat at USC.

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