The animosity toward Lincoln Riley is almost… unheard of. His 39-19 record with the USC Trojans doesn't measure well against his ten-year, $110 contract. Sure, he won games, but those were essentially against weaker programs that never really posed them any threat in the first place.
It goes without saying that fans are upset and want the head coach out. Discussions about his replacements are in full swing, though they are all hypothetical as of now.
"The guy I think would be a name to watch, and I'm like, 'this would probably be a good fit for USC,' is Kalani Sitake," national college football insider Bruce Feldman said on . "Kalani is the polar opposite of Lincoln Riley in every way as a head coach. This is the one who is most opposite of Lincoln."
Feldman was in conversation with Stewart Mandel, The Athletic's editor-in-chief for college football. The two weighed in on Riley's hot seat that grows hotter with each game. Feldman, a veteran reporter for The Athletic, has championed Sitake not just for his record but for his character, which, in his opinion, will bridge the gap with the team and its distancing supporters. But there's an issue.
Last year, Sitake turned down the Penn State Nittany Lions to stay with the BYU Cougars, his alma mater. In doing so, he turned his back on a significant salary hike. Think more than $10 million per year. For context, that is way higher than the $4 million per year at BYU.
Sitake made his choice while he was racing for the Big 12 championship against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in December.
"If I'm being honest, I just wanted to be here a long [time]," Sitake said after discussing his extension at BYU. "It's hard to leave when you have something so special, and you have amazing people that support us."
In an era where NIL and result-based indicators dictate college football, Sitake often flies under the radar for the team and culture he built. The Cougars ended with an 11-1 regular season record last year after a long battle. Sitake is precisely what the Trojans are lacking. Here's why:
Riley hasn't been able to pull off a decent culture at USC so far. After the Desman Stephens penalty hit towards USC's Dante Moore, many people noticed that Riley's player was celebrating while Moore was unconscious and wheeled out of the field. The part that was more frustrating was that Riley did not intervene during the game.
"He is a guy who exudes toughness and physicality," Feldman further said about Sitake. "He is a former fullback. His teams always play hard and physical. The other thing about him is this cool dichotomy where he is a really warm, and engaging beloved figure. He is super comfortable in his own skin. And all of that other stuff is kind of where I feel like Lincoln ends up turning people off."
While Feldman did not point to a specific instance, most recently, Riley chastised his team for losing to the Oregon Ducks in a way that could be perceived as evading responsibility. This was also when the Ducks took a dig at his most talked-about moment of the season. When the Coliseum was sparsely filled, with little-to-no Trojans fans in sight for their season-opener, Riley called the chatter a "false narrative" fabricated by bitter enemies who have never stepped inside the stadium.
The growing dissonance between Riley and the Trojans fans, and their shared connection, made Kalen DeBoer another candidate for his succession. USC athletic director Jen Cohen and DeBoer go way back, when Cohen hired him at Washington a couple of years ago. The head coach turned things around and led the Huskies to the playoffs before departing to Alabama.
But it doesn't end here.
Who are the other potential replacement candidates?
Spencer Danielson (Boise State Broncos head coach) is another name that has been thrown around. His team looked a lot more competitive against Oregon than Riley's team, after all.
Rhett Lashlee (SMU Mustangs head coach) can also be considered, after the school has shown a rise. They have been upgrading facilities and putting much more efforts in the team since Lashlee's arrival. However, as a team, USC already has the resources the coach will need.
Kenny Dillingham (the Arizona State Sun Devils head coach) might be considered, though it would be tough to snatch him from his alma mater. He has previously worked with Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon, and knows how to build quality staff and a great team.
All that said, the season is just picking up heat, but Riley's future is certainly at stake here. Only time will tell what happens ahead.
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