A bombshell dropped on Sunday afternoon regarding Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley.
Less than a day after the Sooners lost to Oklahoma State to eliminate any chance of making the Big 12 title game, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported that USC was targeting Riley as their next head coach.
Moments later, numerous outlets began to confirm the news that Riley is indeed headed to Los Angeles. It’s clearly a massive hire for the Trojans, but an absolutely devastating loss for the Sooners.
Expect an announcement on this in the 24 hours, per sources. The final details are being worked out. https://t.co/OqtP63a9Ml
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 28, 2021
Any advantage that Oklahoma once had over Texas has seemingly diminished. It’s unclear who the Sooners will target as their next head coach after the shocking departure of Riley, but it will be tough to match his offensive prowess.
Riley’s departure is also likely to shake up the recruiting world, which could be beneficial for Texas. There is still a little over two weeks until the early signing period, and several current Oklahoma commits could choose to look elsewhere. Whether it be via the transfer portal or the high school ranks, Steve Sarkisian’s staff could have several more options become available.
With both Oklahoma and Texas heading to the SEC in the near future, Longhorns fans are relieved that they won’t have to face Riley on a consistent basis.
Take a look at the instant reactions from college football fans regarding the Riley to USC news on the next page.