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UCF is aiming big in its search to find a replacement for Gus Malzahn at head coach.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Antonio Morales and Ralph Russo reported Wednesday the Knights have “inquired about the availability of USC coach Lincoln Riley.”
“Representatives from UCF reached out to Riley’s representatives last weekend to inquire about his interest in making a move across the country, one source said,” the report said. “Any discussions about adjusting the terms of Riley’s contract would be between him and USC, sources said.”
The Athletic said there’s nothing yet to indicate Riley has any interest in ditching Southern California for Orlando, Florida.
The finances required to make this move happen are enough to cast doubt.
Riley is reportedly getting around $10 million a year for USC, so UCF would have to come close to that figure. According to USA Today, Malzahn’s deal with the Knights averaged $4 million in base pay.
The Trojans probably won’t do UCF a favor by firing Riley, either, because that would cost about $90 million, per Feldman, Morales and Russo.
The Athletic report also raised the possibility of USC in effect subsidizing his hiring at UCF by paying some of the difference between what he would’ve earned in L.A. and what he’s getting from his new job. That could make sense if only because the outlay would be much less than his buyout.
More than anything, this development illustrates how badly Riley’s tenure has unfolded.
If USC had re-established itself as a College Football Playoff contender by now, there’s no chance UCF believes this is remotely realistic. The Knights might be playing in the Big 12 now, but USC is simply a better job all things being equal.
However, it has been downhill ever since the Trojans went 11-3 in Riley’s first season. They won eight games in 2023 and slumped to 6-6 this year.
Riley hasn’t advanced USC past where it was toward the end of Clay Helton’s run, and the general perception around the Trojans might be worse than it was with Helton because of how high they set the expectations by bringing in a marquee coach as his replacement.
The market is speaking for itself with three 5-star recruits having decommitted from the program during the 2025 cycle.
It won’t be shocking if USC eventually looks for an exit plan; it just probably won’t be this offseason.
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