Paul Finebaum addresses Lincoln Riley rumors, if he could leave USC for another job

Paul Finebaum addressed the latest Lincoln Riley rumors that he could find his way out of USC. Riley has since denied those rumors that seemingly came out of nowhere. But with this current coaching carousel, anything’s possible.

Riley and USC ranked in the top 20 and now 7-2 following Friday night’s victory over Northwestern. He’s turned the Trojans around this year compared to the last couple, so that could bode well for their Big Ten and CFP hopes this season and moving forward.

But Finebaum, while giving Riley some flowers, noted that USC might not be the glamour job in college football at this point as it once was. He didn’t predict he’d leave, but hinted that Riley might want to look for an exit strategy.

“I’ve been critical of this guy, but he’s done a really good job this year of keeping his program together, and that’s Lincoln Riley,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “And I’m not just saying this to say it, but I keep hearing whispers that he could be in play, and if he is, it’s good for him that his name is back in the picture again. Don’t know if he would leave USC, but he still is one of those names that you can introduce at a press conference and people go: ‘Oh wow.’”

Riley and USC already equaled last year’s total wins with seven and he’s now 33-16 in LA. Since that 2022 season, Riley is only 22-13.

“I’m not going to give you the cliche that … college football is so much better when USC (is good),” Finebaum said. “It doesn’t really matter to me if USC ever plays another football game. The bottom line is that they are forgotten about. And I’m sure Lincoln Riley is getting that memo, and he’s done a pretty good job this year. 

“And where is he going to go for attention in a town that just celebrated a World Series, and, you know, is focused on the Lakers right now? I mean, he just doesn’t really matter. And the thing is, and you’ve been there enough time, when USC is at the top of the heap, they do matter in LA, but they don’t matter right now.”

The win over Northwestern made USC keep pace in the Big Ten, as well as the College Football Playoff race. But Finebaum wasn’t going to qualify that game a big win for Riley.

“I was watching SportsCenter Saturday morning, and somebody said, you know, USC won a big game Friday night. I’m like, oh, who’d they play,” Finebaum said. “It’s like, no they didn’t, but they won, and that’s all that matters right now, as you kind of hang around. But I just think Lincoln is an interesting cat, where he was so used to being in the spotlight, and he took the bullets, and now he’s recovered again. And I don’t know I would be telling my agent if I was Lincoln, find me a good job. Get me out of here. I’m not going to survive.”