USC believed Lincoln Riley was a gift from Oklahoma for its football program, but Riley was actually like the Trojan Horse, coming to tear things down from within.
When Riley left the Sooners in 2021, it was expected to be the fall of a great empire entering uncharted territory of the SEC, but OU was not built by one man. Five years later, Brent Venables is still sitting comfortably on the throne after replacing Riley, while Riley will soon be overthrown.
The Trojans lost to Wisconsin 24-7 on Saturday to ultimately fall outside of the top 25 and seal Riley’s fate leading USC. He was already on the hot seat, but at 6-2 with three top-10 opponents ahead, the “Mecca of College Football” will inevitably be looking to replace Riley by the end of the season. Best-case scenario for Riley: he leaves for Baylor on his own terms.
Oklahoma has proven belief in Brent Venables, while Lincoln Riley is on his way out at USC
As we’ve all heard before, Riley over the offseason proclaimed that this was finally the year for his Trojans. It’s a day in college football when instant results should be expected at a program with resources like USC, but it took until Year 5 for Riley to believe he had finally built something, with one of the most expensive and experienced rosters in college football.
Saturday proved Riley has only crumbled. Known as an offensive mastermind, Riley’s uber-talented offense scored only seven points for the first time in his head-coaching career. The Trojans will now face an even stouter defense next, with No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday.
With expectations to win big games on their way to the College Football Playoff, the Trojans have beaten just one Power 4 team with a winning record this season. Barring the kind of upset win Riley is famous for choking away, USC is staring down a 7-5 season.
Venables, too, is looking at the same result in Oklahoma during a disappointing season that started with CFP expectations. He won’t be going anywhere, though, after signing a new two-year contract extension over the offseason.
Many would argue that Venables’ extension came too soon, but at least he did enough to influence his bosses to show some faith. Riley hasn’t sniffed the CFP since leaving Oklahoma, but Venables had the Sooners there just last year.
Venables has notched 10 wins in two of his four full seasons leading OU. Riley reached double-digit wins in all but one of his five seasons as the Sooners’ head coach. He tallied 11 wins with a roster he brought with him from OU in his first season, but hasn’t since.
Riley is learning the hard way that where you’re at matters. It wasn’t Riley that made OU, but OU that made Riley.
Venables is going to outlive Riley, even after he inherited a program left in rubble, but that’s because location matters. Wherever Riley goes, it will never be the “Mecca of College Football.”
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