Lincoln Riley Faces Scrutiny as USC Struggles with Transfer Portal and NIL Challenges

USC's football program grapples with player departures, NIL-era complexities, and questions about Lincoln Riley's leadership after a disappointing season.

• USC has lost 19 players to the transfer portal during the current window, including top recruits Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson.
• Head coach Lincoln Riley attributes many player departures to financial incentives in the NIL era, describing college football as more business-like than ever before.
• Critics cite poor recruitment retention, strained relationships with local high school coaches, and roster mismanagement as key issues under Riley's tenure.
• USC's performance has declined significantly since Riley's arrival, with the team finishing this season at 6-6, its worst record under his leadership.
• Riley's ability to adapt and rebuild the program is under intense scrutiny, with analysts and fans questioning whether he can reverse USC's downward trajectory.

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