As we look ahead to the 2025 college football season, the stakes couldn’t be higher for several head coaches across the NCAA landscape. While names like Brian Kelly at LSU, Sherrone Moore at Michigan, and Matt Rhule at Nebraska all find themselves in precarious positions, one coach stands out as facing the most intense pressure—Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans.
In a recent segment on “Get Up!” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum wasted no time pointing out that Riley is the clear frontrunner for this season’s “most pressure” title. His reasoning? Simple yet compelling. Finebaum suggests that after a promising debut at USC, Riley has struggled to meet the high expectations that come with leading such a storied program.
Riley’s first year had its highlights, giving fans a glimpse of what the future could hold, but the subsequent seasons have been filled with turbulence. Finebaum highlights that if it weren’t for Riley’s hefty $80 million buyout, USC might have already explored other coaching options. It’s a staggering amount by any standard, but especially for a program like Southern Cal, which is no stranger to bold decisions and high-profile hires.
As USC prepares to tackle the challenges of the Big Ten Conference in 2025, the urgency is palpable. With the weight of expectations resting squarely on his shoulders, Riley must find a way to galvanize his team and deliver results. For the Trojans to turn things around this fall, fans will be watching closely to see if the coach can navigate the pressure and steer the program back toward greatness.
The question remains: can Lincoln Riley rise to the occasion, or will the mounting expectations prove too much as he embarks on a critical season for his career and the USC football legacy?
