“Go 8-5 at Ohio State and see what happens”: Urban Meyer bluntly calls out Lincoln Riley’s record at USC

Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer took a shot at Lincoln Riley ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Riley has been the head coach of the USC Trojans since 2022, but has yet to lead them to a college football playoff spot. Meyer believes USC should have the best recruiting class every year, given its location in California.

With that, Meyer thinks Riley needs to do a better job, as he says if Riley were doing this at Ohio State or Alabama, he likely would have been fired already.

"I guess the way I've always looked at USC is I equate them to Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, and Florida," Meyer said to Colin Cowherd. "I've always looked at USC as one of the top five jobs in America.

"I've got a lot of respect for Lincoln Riley, and I promised myself I would never call for jobs — because I'm not gonna do that. However, when seven (or) eight wins is acceptable at USC, that's when I don't know. I don't agree with that...

"I think they're gonna have a great year and I think we're not gonna have to (have) this conversation," Meyer added. "But, go 8-5 at Ohio State and see what happens."

Riley will have pressure on him this season as he enters his fourth season at USC. Every year he has been the coach of the Trojans, he has had a worse record every season.

Lincoln Riley is not worried about pressure on him at USC

USC used to be a top-tier college football program, but that hasn't been the case of late.

Entering 2025, Riley's name has been on the hot seat and is under pressure. However, he says he isn't thinking about the pressure.

“I got asked this at OU, I get asked this at SC, but it’s not about the pressure,” Riley said, via On3.

“It’s about the opportunity and the opportunities that we’ve had have been great. I think in some ways, the opportunities will even be better in this conference because of the matchups that are going to happen and obviously with the expanded playoff and all of that. I think it’s gonna be a great thing.”

Riley had expectations of making USC a perennial contender, but that hasn't been the case. But if the Trojans can make the playoffs, it will silence all the doubters of Riley.

USC will open its season on Aug. 30 against Missouri State.