College Football

Identifying 5 USC Trojans Coaching Candidates to Replace Lincoln Riley in 2027

September 28, 2026

Following a difficult start to the 2026 college football campaign, speculation has emerged regarding potential successors to Lincoln Riley at the helm of the USC Trojans program. Among the names being discussed to take over the job is Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson, whose squad put up competitive performances against Oregon in recent years including a narrow 34-27 defeat in Eugene on September 5, following a 37-34 loss at Autzen Stadium two seasons prior.

Danielson stepped into the top role late in 2023 after Andy Avalos was dismissed, guiding the team to a 3-1 finish before achieving a 12-2 record and a playoff berth in 2024, and later securing a third consecutive Mountain West championship. Poaching him from Boise State would carry a modest buyout of $3.5 million for the Trojans.

Another option mentioned for the potential vacancy is SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, who took his first top-tier coaching job in 2022 after previously working as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Miami and SMU. Lashlee steered the Mustangs to an 11-3 record and a historic playoff appearance in 2023, which marked the institution's first consecutive double-digit win seasons since the Bobby Collins era during the early 1980s, followed by a 9-4 campaign the subsequent year.

Although prying him away from Southern Methodist University could prove challenging, the program's recent defeats against Louisville and struggles in 2025 suggest he may lack the elite resources needed to push further, whereas USC possesses the financial backing to construct a strong coaching staff.