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One of ESPN's premier college football analysts, Paul Finebaum, has been sharply critical of USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley. Last November, after USC lost its final three regular-season games, he berated Riley, characterizing his coaching performance that year as "a complete disaster" and "a total fraud." Furthermore, Finebaum recently proclaimed Riley will not be around much longer at Southern Cal.
In two seasons with the Trojans, Riley's record is 19-8. As Finebaum accurately noted, that does not cut it at USC.
The Trojans have won 11 national championships. They have more Heisman Trophy winners (8) and more No. 1 overall NFL draft picks (6) than any other college football program. Love them or hate them, they are a force to be reckoned with in college football. Accordingly, the school administration and fan base expect preeminence.
Finebaum has gone on record to express his opinion that Riley cannot deliver. On his nationally syndicated show, Finebaum suggested the Trojans might finish the 2024 season with a losing record and that the blame will lie with Riley.
"I mean, I think it's over for Lincoln Riley, anyway. To me, he's lost control. And once you lose control, you're like in the middle of quicksand."
Paul Finebaum, ESPN Analyst
Is Finebaum right about Riley? Are his days at USC numbered? Not all agree with Finebaum's take. In an article published on June 21, OutKick's David Hookstead described Finebaum's remarks as "unhinged" and "crazy." Noting that USC's disappointing 8-5 record last season was mainly attributable to the team's dismal defense and that Riley has a 10-year contract believed to include an $80 million buyout, Hookstead concluded Finebaum's opinion is "detached from reality."
So, what is the reality?
The Trojans' Daunting 2024 Schedule
Riley and USC will need to perform at a high level to succeed in their historic 2024 season as they transition from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference. Their schedule is formidable from start to finish. Pro Football Focus rates USC's 2024 schedule as the toughest in the nation. According to On3, USC has the third toughest schedule.
Here is their lineup of opponents:
Sept. 1: LSU (Las Vegas)
Sept. 7: Utah State
Sept. 21: at Michigan
Sept. 28: Wisconsin
Oct. 5: at Minnesota
Oct. 12: Penn State
Oct. 19: at Maryland
Oct. 26: Rutgers
Nov. 2: at Washington
Nov. 16: Nebraska
Nov. 23: UCLA
Nov. 30: Notre Dame
In ESPN's preseason top 25 poll, Notre Dame is ranked No. 5, Michigan is No. 10, Penn State is No. 12 and LSU is No. 14. Washington and Wisconsin narrowly missed inclusion in the top 25. Thus, USC, ranked No. 25 in the poll, has a schedule full of games against the strongest teams in the nation. Traversing this grueling gauntlet will make it challenging for Riley to prove Finebaum wrong.
Riley's Revamped Defensive Coaching Staff
After the Trojans' awful defensive performance in 2023, Riley brought in a new defensive staff. The Athletic described it as "an all-star staff that takes a backseat to none." This impressive new crew of defensive coaches is poised to make Finebaum eat his words. Key members of the new staff are:
D'Anton Lynn, defensive coordinator
Eric Henderson, defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator
Matt Entz, linebackers coach
Doug Belk, secondary coach
D'Anton Lynn
Riley poached Lynn from rival UCLA, where in a single season as the Bruins' defensive coordinator, he boosted the team's defense from a national ranking of No. 87 in 2022 up to No. 11 in 2023.
From 2008 through 2011, Lynn played cornerback for Penn State. In three of his four seasons with the Nittany Lions, he was named All-Big Ten honorable mention.
In 2012, Lynn signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. After the Jets released him, he had a brief stint in the Canadian Football League before beginning his coaching career back with the Jets in 2014. In 2021 and 2022, he was the defensive secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
Eric Henderson
Henderson was a defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams from 2019 through 2023. He was a member of the Super Bowl LVI championship team. Not only did Henderson coach future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald but also the two are friends. Shortly after USC hired Henderson, Donald retired, and has since joined Henderson at USC practices and recruiting events.
Henderson has been invaluable to USC since joining the staff earlier this year. He quickly made an impact on the recruiting trail, skyrocketing to a ranking of No. 3 in 247Sports' recruiter ratings.
Matt Entz
Entz was a two-time FCS national champion coach at North Dakota State. In five years with the Bison, Entz led the team to a gaudy .857 win percentage. The American Football Coaches Association named him FCS National Coach of the Year twice—in 2019 and 2021. Asked why he was willing to become a position coach after being a two-time national championship coach, Entz explained joining the coaching staff at USC gives him "better opportunities down the line," and he noted that he and his family look forward to enjoying the climate change, moving from North Dakota to Southern California.
Doug Belk
From 2021 through 2023, Belk was the associate coach/defensive coordinator of the Houston Cougars. In 2022, ESPN described him as one of the "biggest rising stars in college football's coaching landscape." He transformed the Cougars' defense, catapulting them to a No. 11 national ranking in 2022. His defensive line was nicknamed "Sack Ave."
This quartet of new defensive coaches is joined by Shaun Nua, the lone holdover from the 2023 Trojans defensive staff. Nua will serve as defensive ends coach in 2024. He came to USC from Michigan in 2022.
The newly revamped USC defensive coaching staff is a dramatic upgrade from the underperforming staff of the two previous seasons. That staff was led by Alex Grinch, who USC fired last November. Grinch is now the safeties coach at Wisconsin. Grinch was widely criticized at USC. The new members of the defensive coaching staff have the credentials to turn things around.
New Defensive Players
Along with the new defensive brain trust, USC has a bevy of talented new players on defense. Joining Bear Alexander, who anchors the defensive line, are free safety Kamari Ramsey, strong safety Akili Arnold, cornerback John Humphrey, linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and defensive tackle Nate Clifton. Ramsey and Humphrey transferred from UCLA, following Lynn across town. Brothers Arnold and Mascarenas-Arnold transferred from Oregon State. Clifton is a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt.
Ramsey has been named to the 2024 Lott IMPACT watchlist. Clifton was a team captain at Vanderbilt in 2023. And, Mascarenas-Arnold was first-team All-Pac 12 last year.
True freshman EDGE Kameryn Fountain is a player to watch this season. A four-star recruit from Georgia, rated by 247Sports as the No. 7 EDGE in the 2024 recruiting class, Fountain has been turning heads in practice and scrimmages.
USC's defense looks much improved across the board. If the players deliver on the gridiron, Finebaum's prediction will not pan out.
Offensive Weapons
The Trojans are locked and loaded at the wide receiver position, headlined by electric Zachariah Branch, a five-star recruit who made first-team All-American as a return specialist in his freshman year. With Branch and fellow playmakers WR Duce Robinson and WR Ja'Kobi Lane hooking up with quarterback Miller Moss, the Trojans' offense promises to remain dynamic despite the departure of 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.
Moss patiently waited his turn to be QB1 and showcased his talent in the Holiday Bowl. In addition to the explosive receivers he will be targeting, Moss will receive stout support from team leader Jonah Monheim, who is playing center in 2024, and talented running back Jo'Quavious "Woody" Marks who transferred to USC from Mississippi State.
With Riley's offensive acumen and skilled players all across the Trojans' offense, opposing defenses will have their hands full trying to contain USC.
Finebaum's Prognostication Is Greatly Exaggerated
A quote often attributed to Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, is: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." If the 2024 iteration of the Trojans lives up to its potential, Finebaum's report that "it's over" for Riley will prove premature and exaggerated.
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The comment section on this site is strange and hard to find.
Anyway, Fight On Trojans
Whatever Finebaum. USC is going to the playoffs this year. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.