Josh Pate said the thing USC fans already believe, on national TV.
“That will be it for Lincoln Riley at USC.”
Pate said it live on the Rich Eisen Show, as Heavy.com reported, days after Dan Lanning and Oregon beat USC for a third straight time — a mainstream analyst putting the quiet part on national TV.
Are Lincoln Riley's days numbered at USC after dropping another game against Oregon?#cfbplayoff @espncfb pic.twitter.com/2wrH8G0moL
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) September 29, 2026
Keyshawn Johnson has the receipts: Riley is 5-15 against ranked teams in 58 games at USC, the same tenure record as Clay Helton.
Through 58 games
Clay Helton 39-19
Lincoln Riley 39-19Vs ranked opponents:
CH: 10-16
LR: 5-15Smdh! 🤦🏾♂️
— Keyshawn Johnson (@keyshawn) September 27, 2026
“That will be it for Lincoln Riley at USC.” 👀@JoshPateCFB sounds off on his expectations for USC football ⬇️
(via @RichEisenShow) pic.twitter.com/X5t7S9uzPG
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 29, 2026
USC’s 3-2. Jayden Maiava just posted a 97.0 PFF grade, and he might be playing his final year for a coach the whole sport has already buried.
