On Saturday, ABC broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit suggested that he’s heard rumors about Florida being interested in USC head coach Lincoln Riley as a backup option if Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin decides to stay in Oxford or take the open LSU job.
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“Everybody’s talking about Lane,” Herbstreit said during Tennessee’s 31-11 win over the Gators. “What if Lane Kiffin stays at Ole Miss or goes to LSU? I’ve been asking everybody ‘What if you don’t get Lane Kiffin? Who’s next?’ Lincoln Riley… I’ve heard his name. (Missouri head coach) Eli Drinkwitz.
“There are different names, but it seems here at Florida, they’re all counting on Lane Kiffin.”
While Kiffin is the top option for Florida, the program must consider another possibility to replace Billy Napier. Lincoln Riley made three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances with Oklahoma, but has been unable to make USC a true contender in his four seasons in Los Angeles.
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During an episode of the “ESPN College GameDay” podcast on Monday, Pete Thamel reported that he’s heard Riley’s name tied to SEC programs, but doesn’t think the USC head coach is a serious candidate for Florida at this time, in part because of his lackluster results with the Trojans.
“Look, if you’re an SEC program, but one of these three that wants to go win a national championship, like (Riley’s) had a lot of resources and he’s had a top 10 job,” Thamel said. “I think we’d all agree, USC’s a top 10 job, and he hasn’t been able to do what you would be hiring him to do. No one’s going to argue with Lincoln Riley’s playcalling acumen.
“Nobody’s going to argue with his offensive acumen. That’s still perceived to be at the top of the sport. It’s running the holistic program to complement that where he has lagged.”
Thamel suggested that Riley would be more likely to take a job at a Texas school or with a Big 12 program, as he’s proven to be successful in that part of the country. His name might have been linked to Baylor if the Bears hadn’t decided to retain Dave Aranda for 2026.
Texas Tech might have had interest in hiring him if Joey McGuire struggled this season.
“That’s his world, and that’s where he was his best, and that’s where he was dominant,” Thamel said. “It was in the Big 12 when Oklahoma was in the Big 12.”
No. 15 USC is 8-3 after dropping a 42-27 contest to No. 7 Oregon on Saturday. Riley, 42, is 34-17 during his four seasons with the Trojans.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.