Paul Finebaum Critiques Lincoln Riley’s USC Tenure Ahead of 2025 Season
College football analyst Paul Finebaum has once again criticized USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley, questioning his future in Los Angeles as the 2025 season looms. Finebaum offered another pointed critique, suggesting that Riley’s success at Oklahoma may have been more due to the foundation left by Bob Stoops rather than Riley’s own coaching abilities. 
Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, Finebaum remarked that he’s starting to believe Riley’s success at Oklahoma was largely built on what he inherited, rather than what he built himself.
“I’m starting to think that what we saw at Oklahoma was more about what Bob Stoops left behind than what Lincoln Riley did,” Finebaum said. “He’s a great recruiter and offensive coordinator, no doubt. But I don’t think he can handle the pressure of being a head coach. If it weren’t for that $80 million buyout, I would’ve fired him last year. To me, his trajectory is over.”
Since then, Riley’s buyout has risen to $90 million, the highest in college football history, surpassing Jimbo Fisher’s $77.5 million buyout at Texas A&M, making any potential coaching change a financial hurdle for USC.
Finebaum went on to argue that Riley’s only reason for staying is the overwhelming size of his buyout.
This is just the latest in a series of critical comments from Finebaum about Riley since he left Oklahoma for USC. Earlier in the year, Finebaum called Riley’s coaching results “fraudulent,” pointing out USC’s lack of a conference title despite an influx of talent, including the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for 2026.
When Riley first arrived at USC, the program showed promise. After inheriting a team coming off a 4-8 season, he led the Trojans to an 11-3 record in 2022, including a Pac-12 Championship appearance and Caleb Williams winning the Heisman Trophy. But the momentum has slowed since then, with USC posting an 8-5 record in 2023, followed by a 7-6 finish last season, raising doubts about the program’s direction.
Finebaum also criticized Riley’s decision to leave Oklahoma, claiming he didn’t just move to USC to rebuild the program, but to avoid the pressure of coaching in the SEC, where Oklahoma was about to move.
“He didn’t just leave Oklahoma, he fled,” Finebaum stated.
He added that he believes Brent Venables, Riley’s replacement in Norman, has positioned the Sooners for greater success than Riley could have had if he stayed.
As Riley enters his fourth season at USC, the pressure mounts. The Trojans’ second year in the Big Ten begins with high expectations and intense scrutiny. USC boasts a talented roster, including the top 2026 recruiting class, and significant NIL investments. With such resources at his disposal, Riley is expected to deliver immediate results, making every game and decision even more critical.
Finebaum’s comments only add to the pressure on Riley, as the Trojans head into a crucial stretch for the future of their program.
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