Lincoln Riley has credibility as a coach because he is one of the best offensive-minded coaches in the country. He has many top quarterbacks in the NFL who suited up for him in college. He knows how to cultivate a great offense, but he has yet to find a way into the College Football Playoff at USC. That fact alone might be the big reason why he is not viewed at the level he once was. Many other coaches have turned around things more quickly, at lesser programs than USC.
In a recent tweet, college football analyst Josh Pate broke down his rankings for the ten best coaches in college football today. USC Trojan head coach Lincoln Riley was nowhere to be found. His criteria are based on the last 3 years. Here is what he had to say about his ranking:
Advertisement
“To those ranked, don’t embarrass me. To those unranked…prove me wrong.”
3 of the top 4 coaches in his ranking are Big Ten coaches, and he has Ryan Day as the best coach in the country. It would be tough to argue that Lincoln Riley has down much of anything to place himself with his other Big Ten coaching counterparts. It is also hard to make a case for him over coaches such as Mike Elko, Mario Cristobal, and Steve Sarkisian either.
The last 3 years have been frustrating for the USC Trojans, and now, with 2 years down in the Big Ten, it is time for more success to come. The Trojans showed they looked like they belonged more last season than they did the year prior. One would hope that even with the rigorous schedule, the Trojans can be a top team in the Big Ten.
The Trojans’ offense was lights out last season, and Riley got big wins vs Iowa and a ranked Michigan at the time last season. There were some moments that highlighted much improvement. This is a big season, though. Lincoln Ril; he needs to reassert himself in conversations like this. The Trojans need to win at least 10 games or more this season.
Advertisement
Riley, instead of being in the top ten coaching rankings like he belongs,is at the top of the rankings for coaches on the hottest seat. He will need to change that this season. The amount of talent that is coming in this season, and former head coach Gary Patterson right by his side, USC should be in the College Football Playoff these next two seasons. If anything, what Curt Cignetti did made things even hotter surrounding Lincoln Riley.
Riley is a good coach; he knows the importance of this season, and he has everything he needs to lead the Trojans to their best season in quite some time. At the end of the year, I think Riley gets back in rankings such as Josh Pate’s.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: For Josh Pate, Lincoln Riley has to re-prove himself as a top coach
