When Louisiana State University parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers’ head coaching job immediately became one of the most intriguing in the country. With its blue-blood status in college football, the position should attract some of the nation’s top coaches. While one name floated as a candidate is USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, one analyst has warned LSU to steer clear of him, given his history.
Why Is Lincoln Riley Considered a Risky Hire for the LSU Tigers?
Riley has long been one of the most respected coaches and offensive minds in college football. During his tenure with the Oklahoma Sooners, he developed quarterbacks such as Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams, while leading the team to three College Football Playoff appearances.
However, Riley never managed to win a championship in Norman. When the USC job opened at the end of the 2021 season, he quickly accepted it, leaving Oklahoma behind. Now in his fourth season as the Trojans’ head coach, Riley has once again been linked to another job opening. While Riley is a very accomplished head coach, college football analyst Connor O’Gara believes LSU would be making a mistake by hiring him.
O’Gara explained that if Riley was willing to leave Oklahoma and is now potentially leaving USC, there is no reason to think the Tigers would not eventually face the same situation. He also added that USC has not been a powerhouse this season, which makes it challenging to justify why LSU would target him.
“If things have ended so poorly with two different premier programs, which would be Oklahoma and USC, why would you want to sign up to be the third?” O’Gara said. “That’s the thing I’m kind of struggling to kind of grasp, because let’s be honest, USC’s been alright this year, they’ve just been alright.”
O’Gara makes a strong point. Riley left the Sooners even after turning the program into a consistent national title contender. He has not found the same success at USC, as he has only led the Trojans to double-digit wins once and has yet to reach the CFP. That trend appears likely to continue this season, with PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter giving USC just a 36.83% to make the playoff.
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O’Gara went on to explain that if Riley does leave USC, it is likely because he feels he cannot handle the pressure of leading a premier program. The analyst questioned how that would change at LSU, which comes with a similar level of pressure.
“But if he’s leaving, it’s a sign that he doesn’t think he can handle this,” O’Gara said. “And if you can’t handle it with your house and the 12 bathrooms, and the burnt brisket and all that kind of crap you got going on there, then why do you think you’re going to handle it at LSU?”
The LSU job is one of the most sought-after positions in college football, and the program should be able to attract nearly any candidate it wants. While Riley is undoubtedly a strong option, O’Gara’s concerns about the coach’s history carry some validity, and it may be best for the Tigers to go in a different direction.