Trojans Football Coach Riley Listed Among the Best in America

Lincoln Riley, head coach of the USC Trojans has been named to the Bobby Dodd Trophy midseason watchlist.

USC has a 6-1 record and are the No.19 in the country. USC is coming off an impressive win defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in their annual “White Out” game. The two teams played in front of 114,000 fans, the largest crowd ever in Happy Valley to watch a Penn State game.

Currently Riley’s USC offense is ranked No.7 in passing offense (310 yards per game), No.20 in scoring offense (36.4 points per game), and No.13 in third down efficiency, converting 51.2% of third downs..

Offense is Riley’s thing. He is considered one of the brightest minds in college football. Throughout his career, he has coached three quarterbacks who have won the Heisman Trophy, with each of those players becoming the No.1 overall picks in the NFL Draft (Kyler Murry, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams).

All three quarterbacks are currently starting in the NFL, showing that Riley’s teachings translate to NFL success.

While serving as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, Riley also coached Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts finished No.2 in the Heisman race and was drafted in the second round. Hurts is the franchise quarterback in Philadelphia and has guided the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one title.

Riley has already brought home hardware as an assistant coach and a head coach. In 2015 he won the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football. In 2018 Riley was named Big 12 Coach of the Year after leading Oklahoma to an undefeated regular season.

Riley's past teams have also had tremendous success. From 2017-2020 Riley's Oklahoma teams won four consecutive Big 12 championships. 

Riley took Oklahoma to the playoffs in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Early losses to Kansas State and Iowa State prevented the Big 12 Champion from going to the playoffs in 2020 as the Sooners finished No. 6 in the then four team playoff.

USC’s Jayden Maiava is Riley’s newest quarterback protege who is projected to be a first- round draft pick. Maiava led the Big Ten in passing yards in 2025 and had the No.1 QBR in the country at 91.2.

Maiava has been named to the Johnny Unitas Award watchlist this season, given to the top quarterback in college football.

Other notable coaches who have been named to the Dodd Midseason Watchlist are Kirby Smart (Georgia), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Curt Cignetti (Indiana) and Mario Cristobal (Miami).

USC is off this week but will travel to Madison Wisconsin for an October 24 game against the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.