Lincoln Riley Says He Believes In USC As Losses Mount

Five years into coaching at USC, Lincoln Riley is fielding questions about whether he will finish his tenure in Los Angeles, and he answered them directly this week ahead of a game against second-ranked Ohio State. The Trojans are 6-2 after a loss to Wisconsin, and their College Football Playoff chances are thin.

Riley left Oklahoma for USC, and he brought that up when asked about his future. "I love it here," he said. "There's not many people in college football history who gave up what I gave up to come here. I don't care if it's 15 years down the line. That should never be taken lightly, and it's not taken lightly by me. I came here because this is where I wanted to be. I came here because I believe in this place, and none of that has changed whatsoever." He said he is happy in Los Angeles.

USC has no ranked wins this season. Its two losses came to Oregon and unranked Wisconsin, both against backup quarterbacks in Big Ten play. Three Power Four jobs are open, with more expected to open over the next month.

Riley arrived at USC after reaching the College Football Playoff regularly at Oklahoma, where he had the resources to compete with other top programs. He won 11 games in his first season with the Trojans. He has not reached double-digit wins since, and he has not come close to the playoff.

On managing pressure at a program with a history of winning, Riley said he cannot recall coaching without high expectations. He pointed to his first season at Oklahoma, when early losses drew calls for his removal. "Every single year I've went in with high standards and championship expectations," he said. "The first loss I had at Oklahoma, I didn't think I was gonna be able to get out of bed the next morning. On top of that, there were people trying to run me out of town right away. I learned a lesson pretty quick that the highs and lows of this thing, if you let those get to you, then you're not the right person for the job."

Athletic director Jennifer Cohen did not hire Riley. He described their relationship as "fantastic" and called Cohen "a tremendous AD" who has supported the football program. USC hosts Ohio State this weekend; a loss would push the Trojans to 6-3.