Lincoln Riley USC Trojans Wisconsin Badgers College Football Baylor Bears Dave Aranda Big 12 coaching carousel hot seat
Sep 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks off the field after the game against the Oregon Ducks at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect · IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Coach Lincoln Riley's future in Los Angeles has risen as a major hot button topic again, and this time those talks reignited following Wisconsin's 24-7 win over the USC Trojans on Oct. 24.

USC sits bowl eligible at 6-2. However, the now unranked Trojans are being compared to crosstown rival UCLA going undefeated right away under first year coach Bob Chesney, while USC is operating in season five with Riley that featured no College Football Playoff appearances.

But there's another reason why Riley's future in the Land of Troy remains questionable. All thanks to a prominent opening in a conference Riley knows well.

Analyst Calls Lincoln Riley 'Wildcard' for Baylor Opening

Baylor Bears Dave Aranda Kansas Jayhawks David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium College Football Big 12 Conference
Oct 24, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect · IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Baylor fired coach Dave Aranda following the Bears' own Oct. 24 loss at the hands of Kansas. So that opened up the most appealing Big 12 Conference job.

Riley's name is floated as a "wildcard" here per college football insider for The Athletic Chris Vannini, including sharing if there was interest before from Riley.

"The ultimate wild card. Industry sources a year ago shared whispers that Riley could be interested in this job, but it didn't open," Vannini wrote. "Outside talk of the West Texas native leaving USC to return to his home state has been around for a while, whether by getting fired (complete with a $60 million-plus buyout) or by leaving on his own, which USC would likely welcome."

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley College Football Recruiting TCU Horned Frogs College Football Playoffs Baylor Bears Dave Aranda
Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks the field before the CFP national championship game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images · Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

But there's another Big 12 job Vannini mentions that could be worth monitoring outside of the Waco university.

"The TCU job could also fit Riley if the Frogs move on from Sonny Dykes," Vannini said. "Riley's stunning move from Oklahoma to USC in 2021 makes anything feel possible. The Trojans are 6-2 with big games coming up. How those games turn out could determine Riley's future."

TCU would emerge as a huge plot twist for Riley, considering that former Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson serves under the USC coach as his defensive coordinator. Vannini isn't the only one believing Baylor and Riley could connect, with Pete Nakos of On3 also mentioning Riley's name as a possibility for the Bears.

However, Riley is still under contract at USC.

Restlessness Growing at USC Under Lincoln Riley

Luke Wafle USC Trojans Camp Randall Stadium Colton Joseph College Football Lincoln Riley Big Ten Conference Baylor Bears
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) is caught by USC Trojans defensive end Luke Wafle (94) during their game Oct. 24, 2026, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect · USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

USC fans feel like they're seeing the same song and dance, no matter who the head coach is.

In this case, Riley was supposed to become the one who reignited national championship runs post coach Pete Carroll. But USC has gone to just one New Year's Six bowl game under Riley, which was the 2022 season Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane in his first season.

Riley has created Holiday, Las Vegas and Alamo Bowl runs since then at USC. But the 17-point debacle in Madison, Wisconsin fired off a brand new "sky is falling" narrative for the Trojans especially for alums like former USC and NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Penn State Nittany Lions Beaver Stadium College Football Baylor Bears UCLA Bruins
Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect · IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Fans and national media are once again seeing USC underachieve when expectations rise. The Trojans are likely one loss away from facing elimination of playing for the Big Ten Conference title, or even break into the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Once again, UCLA's sudden renaissance in year one under Chesney isn't helping matters for Riley and USC. The Trojans also operate in a conference that's seen the NCAA's losingest program Indiana become a national champion in two seasons under coach Curt Cignetti.

Worse for USC? A Halloween showdown with No. 2 Ohio State inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum looms, which could make-or-break the Riley tenure.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/usc as USC's Lincoln Riley Linked to Big 12 Job Before Coaching Carousel Picks Up.

Source: Yahoo Sports