12 Hours Transform USC Football: Lincoln Riley Deal Unveiled

USC hires Lincoln Riley as head coach, bringing hope to fans and signaling a turnaround for the football program.

In a stunning move, USC has announced the hiring of Lincoln Riley as the new head coach of the Trojans football program. This decision comes after a three-month search to find a coach who can restore the team to its former glory. USC fans have eagerly awaited this moment, hoping for a leader who can bring success back to their beloved program.

Riley, who previously coached at Oklahoma, has agreed to the terms and will become the 30th head coach in USC history. This announcement has sent shockwaves throughout the college football world, as Riley is widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the country. The search for a new coach has been relatively quiet until now, but this hire has certainly made a statement.

For months, USC athletic director Mike Bohn has been under pressure to find a coach who can quickly turn things around for the Trojans. The firing of Clay Helton in September gave Bohn the opportunity to carefully consider his options and make a strategic decision. The question on everyone's mind was whether he would seize this chance to bring in a coach who could rally the Trojan fanbase and bring back the program's success.

Throughout the search, there were rumors and speculation about potential candidates. Names like Luke Fickell, Dave Aranda, James Franklin, and Matt Campbell were all mentioned as possibilities. However, it was Riley who ultimately emerged as the leading candidate for the job.

The Trojans have struggled to make an impact in recent years, failing to reach the College Football Playoff since its inception. The team has only won one Pac-12 title since 2008, a far cry from the success of the Pete Carroll era. USC's recruiting efforts have also taken a hit, as they haven't been able to assemble a top-five recruiting class since 2018. These signs of decline have highlighted the need for a change in leadership.

Riley's hiring is significant for USC, as he is the first coach since Carroll who brings national relevance to the program on his own merit. Previous coaches like Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian were Carroll's proteges, brought in to maintain the success of the program during a difficult period. Helton, who had no prior head coaching experience, was promoted from an assistant role to the permanent head coach position in 2015.

Bohn's decision to fire Helton after the Stanford loss was a pivotal moment in the search for a new coach. Helton's final record with the Trojans was 46-24, but it was clear that a change was needed to revitalize the program. Bohn had previously chosen to retain Helton after the 2019 and 2020 seasons but ultimately decided that a fresh start was necessary.

With the hiring of Lincoln Riley, USC is hoping to bring back the glory days of Trojan football. The fans have waited patiently for a coach who can lead the team to success, and now they have their answer. Only time will tell if Riley is the one who can restore USC to its former greatness, but the excitement and anticipation surrounding this hire are undeniable.