College Football Coaches Hot Seats: USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley Most Pressure?

The USC Trojans have taken a step back from where there were in a 2022 season in which they went 11-3. USC coach Lincoln Riley will be entering his fourth year at USC is among one of the coaches in college football facing the most pressure in 2025.

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley’s last two seasons at USC have not gone according to plan. The Trojans have followed up an 11-win 2022 season with 8-5 and 7-6 seasons in 2023 and 2024. The pressure has turned up for Riley and the Trojans going into next season. 

What college football coaches have the most pressure heading into the 2025 season?

Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans hired Lincoln Riley in 2022. Riley signed a 10-year deal worth $110 million. Since his first season where the Trojans went 11-3, the team has regressed. Additionally, following the 2024 season, USC lost 21 players to the transfer portal and were unable to land a top-ten recruiting class in 2025.

As member of the Big Ten conference with programs like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan, things will not get easier. USC is currently a middle of the road Big Ten team, and that does not sit right with those that view them being among the biggest brands in college football. 

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide

Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on before running onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Despite going 9-4 in his first season at Alabama, there are not a lot of coaches under more pressure from their fanbase than Kalen DeBoer. The Alabama Crimson Tide are one of the blue blood programs in college football. DeBoer took over last season, following in the footsteps of legendary coach Nick Saban.

Crimson Tide fans are used to be national championship contention every single season and rightfully so. Nick Saban won six national championships with Alabama from 2009-2020. DeBoer's first year resulted in them missing the 12-team College Football Playoff. If Alabama misses the playoff again next year, the heat will be turned up even more.

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Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the first quarter of their game against Oregon Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. / Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Luke Fickell was viewed as a slam-dunk hire by Wisconsin prior to the 2023 season after a successful tenure with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Wisconsin parted with long time coach Paul Chryst, despite the Badgers making a bowl in every season he was there. The Badgers in fact had made a bowl game in every season dating back to 2001 until that streak was snapped in 2024, with Wisconsin going 5-7.

Fickell was hired to take Wisconsin to the next level as a program, but as of now if anything, they have gone backwards. 

Brent Venables, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with players before the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Navy won 21-20. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Brent Venables has been the coach in Norman for three seasons, with two of those being losing years. Oklahoma looked completely outmatched in the SEC during the 2024 season and had a conference record of 2-6. Meanwhile, their biggest rival the Texas Longhorns, also made the move from the Big 12 to the SEC. Texas made it all the way to the SEC title game and College Football Playoff Semifinals.

That doesn't bode well for Venable's standing with Sooners fans moving forward.

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