The college football season is set to begin in just under two weeks with the official Week Zero kickoff. A new quest for the College Football Playoff will commence, with multiple head coaches facing major pressure to deliver.
That pressure is not only about winning but, in some cases, also reaching the playoff. The field has expanded to 12 teams and could grow again after this season. For now, only a dozen teams will claim a spot. One team almost certainly under pressure to deliver is the USC Trojans, led by Lincoln Riley.
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Riley was hired away from Oklahoma, where he established himself as one of college football’s premier offensive minds. However, he has yet to deliver the level of success USC expected. Because of this, he landed on Josh Pate’s list of head coaches facing major pressure to deliver in 2026.
Riley’s seat getting warm?
USC is one of college football’s most decorated programs, with a history built around national championships, Heisman Trophy winners, and NFL talent. The Trojans last claimed an AP national championship in 2004, meaning it has now been more than two decades since USC reached the sport’s summit.
Riley arrived in 2022 with the expectation that he could restore USC to that level. His tenure has produced individual success, including Caleb Williams winning the Heisman Trophy, but the team has not made the College Football Playoff.
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USC went 7-6 in 2024 before improving to 9-4 in 2025, but that progress has not yet translated into playoff contention.
That makes 2026 a pivotal season for Riley. USC has invested heavily in its roster and enters the season with legitimate playoff aspirations. If the Trojans remain outside the playoff picture, questions about whether Riley can bring the program back to championship contention will only grow louder.
His seat may not be scorching yet, but another season without a breakthrough could make the pressure difficult to ignore.