Finebaum Calls USC's Lincoln Riley a Fraud as $70 Million Buyout Clouds Firing Talk
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 29
Finebaum Calls USC's Lincoln Riley a Fraud as $70 Million Buyout Clouds Firing Talk
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 29
Summary
Paul Finebaum said Lincoln Riley is a "complete fraud" and argued USC should eat his roughly $70 million buyout, saying the coach has matched Clay Helton's tenure record despite far heavier investment.
The criticism followed USC's latest defensive collapse in a marquee loss to Oregon, which piled up 504 yards, averaged 7.4 yards per play and scored touchdowns on all six red-zone trips.
That performance deepened frustration around a program that sold 2026 as a breakthrough year after landing the No. 1 recruiting class, hiring Gary Patterson and pouring money into NIL, staff and facilities.
USC's next stretch still leaves Riley a path to calm the hot-seat talk, with winnable games against Washington, Penn State and Wisconsin before tougher tests against Ohio State and Indiana.