USC President Addresses Lincoln Riley’s Future Amid $70 Million Buyout Talk

USC has a new president, Beong-Soo Kim, and he has already made a definitive statement on the future of head coach Lincoln Riley.

After the loss to Oregon this season and other disappointing results during his tenure, Riley is on the hot seat, at least with fans.

To move on from Riley, USC would need to pay a $70 million buyout. In an LA Times profile, Kim declined to say whether USC could or would pay such a large buyout.

“We’re not thinking about that,” Kim said in his LA Times story. “We are laser focused on the next game, and then the game after that.”

In 2021, Lincoln Riley signed a 10-year, $110 million deal, and he is now halfway through it without a College Football Playoff appearance.

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. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Additionally, while the offense has been electric, Riley has failed to solve the defensive issues that limit the team just about every season.

This season, USC is 6-1, boosted somewhat by a weak non-conference schedule. They are 3-1 in Big Ten play, though the hardest part of their schedule still remains.

USC needs to play Ohio State and Indiana, two legit National Championship contenders, before a tricky road game against Wisconsin and a UCLA rivalry game.

Still, despite losing to Oregon, USC has found ways to beat Washington and Penn State, keeping the team in the postseason race.

That win over Penn State specifically gave Riley a big boost.

“We didn’t listen to all you guys had to say on the outside. This group doesn’t really care. Nobody in the world gave us a chance to come in and win this game. We did it our way. We won on our terms, and I’m really damn proud of this football team,” Riley said after the game.

“The best is ahead for this group. This will be a big spark for us going into the bye week and this next stretch of the season. But huge contributions on all sides. This is a tough place to play and a really hard place to win. You’ve got to really outplay them to beat them.”

This story was brought to you by Yoboseyo Superette at USC Village.