USC hires Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma, making big splash in college football coaching carousel

USC set to rent Oklahoma Lincoln Riley coach in the search to replace Clay Helton, sources for CBS Sports ‘Dennis Dodd’. Riley, 38, has led the Sooners for the past five seasons after taking over from legendary coach Bob Stoops.

Oklahoma won 55-10 under Riley with four Big 12 titles and three College football Playoff appearance during his tenure. The Sooners posted a 10-2 record in 2021 but missed the Big 12 Championship Game after losing to Bedlam first Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Riley shoot down rumours tie him up LSU opened after Saturday’s loss, but he was not asked specifically about the USC vacancy.

If he does make the jump to the Pac-12, it will be a recruiting pool of players who will likely be hugely attracted to Riley’s open, high-tempo offensive behavior. Riley produced two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray) and sent another to New York as a Heisman Trophy (Jalen Hurts) finalist.

USC fired Helton two games in 2021. Helton went 46-24 with the Trojans, including the previous Rose Bowl victory. Penn State after the 2016 season.