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22m ago

Cowherd Calls Lincoln Riley ‘Unfireable’ at USC, Forecasts Eight Wins in 2025

He cites USC’s facility plus NIL outlays as making a massive buyout unrealistic.

Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans looks on during the second half of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Speaking on the Joel Klatt Show, Colin Cowherd argued USC’s recent $300 million facility spend and about $18 million in NIL commitments make an $80 million buyout and a similar replacement cost implausible.
  • Cowherd questioned the Trojans’ offensive ceiling, saying he does not love the quarterback situation and does not see the usual firepower associated with Riley’s teams.
  • He predicted an eight-win season, pointing to four winnable openers with Sept. 27 at Illinois framed as an early temperature check.
  • Recent records under Riley have trended down from 11 wins in 2022 to 8-5 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024 during USC’s transition into the Big Ten.
  • Coverage also noted institutional support, citing defensive improvement under coordinator D’Anton Lynn and a Rivals No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class.