If it really does happen, it is so crazy that it might work.
There is a rumour going around that UCF has looked into whether or not the USC head coach might be available in the future. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic said this.
For now, Riley is still with the Trojans, and even though they had a disappointing 6-6 season, there is not much fire to the smoke yet in Riley’s job. He has a $110 million, ten-year contract right now, and if he gets fired, $80 million of that will be paid to him.
But let us follow through with the plan. This could happen: USC wants a new head coach, UCF wants to hire Riley, and there is some kind of deal between the two schools that makes this happen.
First, it would be way hasty for USC. The program was this close to making the College Football Playoff in 2022, and for all the losses this season, five of the losses were by a touchdown or less and all of them were winnable in the final moments.
Even the 49-35 loss to Notre Dame was tight late before the pick-sixes.
Former UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava appears to be a keeper – forget the end of the date with the Irish, he’s got huge upside – and again, the program is probably closer to being 9-3 great than 6-6 blah.
But it’s USC, the patience isn’t there, and everyone has expected more after getting the former Oklahoma head coaching superstar.
UCF would be great right away.
If UCF is going to pay for Riley, it will pay for the talent as well. At the very least, the offence would get all of its parts to work together. Riley would be back in the Big 12, but in a very different school.
He would have all the tools he needs to turn the “half-awake giant” (UCF has SO many good things about its program) into a regular contender for the Big 12 and the College Football Playoff.
I do not think it will happen. I think USC will keep him and give him another year. If anything, the job with the Dallas Cowboys might be more likely down the road than with UCF.
But UCF is doing what that kind of program should do. It means big things.
