With the college football regular season ending, a lot of head coaching jobs are opening. Surprisingly, USC football head coach Lincoln Riley was linked to an opening. UCF reportedly inquired about his availability. It was a surprise, and the Golden Knights job came open when Gus Malzahn shocked everybody by leaving to be the offensive coordinator at Florida State. Then, on Wednesday, reports surfaced that UCF had inquired about possibly bringing in Riley.

However, the Trojans coach strongly refuted those conversations in any form, per Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times.

‘Lincoln Riley was asked about being linked to other jobs. Riley shut down that possibility.'

“I’m a USC Trojan,” Riley said. “This is the only place I want to be.”

It seems obvious that Riley wouldn't want to leave USC for UCF, which can be viewed as a downgrade in a number of different ways. Earlier on Wednesday, USC lost assistant Matt Entz, who became the new head coach at Fresno State after spending just one year in Southern California after a run as North Dakota State head coach.

Article Continues Below
Related USC Football News
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with players at the end of the game against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Marcus Freeman’s epic mic drop on Notre Dame-USC rivalryScotty White ·
USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.
Lincoln Riley shoots down CFB criticism with ‘greatest sport’ takeScotty White ·
Jayden Maiava and Lincoln Riley. The LA Colussieum in the background. USC football, usc schedule, usc prediction
Full USC football game-by-game predictions for 2025 seasonBryan Logan ·
This year's Gala honored former Tampa Bay Buc wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. The mission of the annual Dick Vitale Gala's is to raise money for pediatric cancer research through the V Foundation for Cancer Research to help men, women and children diagnosed with cancer. This year the 2022, 17th Annual Dick Vitale Gala raises a record $11.1 million. For more information and how to donate visit v.org. Sar Dick Vitale Gala 12
Keyshawn Johnson shares bonkers USC football NIL value estimate if he played todayScotty White ·
USC Trojans linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (4) intercepts a pass intended for Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Khalil Dinkins (16) at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
USC pursuing rising 2027 talent with Junior Seau tiesLorenzo J Reyna ·
Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley and Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman shake hands after the game at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
2025 could be final edition of USC-Notre Dame rivalryJake Faigus ·

Riley spent five years as head coach at Oklahoma, going 55-10 and with a 37-7 conference record. Then, he came to USC after the Trojans fired Clay Helton in 2022. However, USC went 11-3 in his first year, then 8-5 in 2023 and 6-6 in 2024 amid a massive disappointment in the Big Ten debut.

Still, Riley has a big contract tied to his name in Southern California, and the Big Ten compared to the Big 12 is a better conference in football.

UCF had a disappointing season, and Malzahn suddenly leaving for Florida State has the Golden Knights searching for answers. Moreover, Scott Frost, the former UCF and Nebraska coach, has been linked to the job, so it will be interesting to see what the program does to fill the void.

But, it sure seems like Lincoln Riley isn't even thinking about the UCF job or any other opening.