The Rise of the Trojans and The Fall of the Sooners

by Liam Willerup | UMiami

    Lincoln Riley, the biggest prize in college football, is taking his talents to Los Angeles to become the new coach at University of Southern California. A historic program, boasting the likes of Reggie Bush, OJ Simpson, Marcus Allen and many more that I don't have the time to name. Being the HC at USC has a lot of pressure, as you are expected to continuously be a top finisher in the Pac-12. However, USC has failed to impress as of recent. Pete Carroll led the Trojans to a Top 4 finish every season from 2002-2008, cementing himself as an all-time great USC coach propelling himself to an NFL coaching job with the Seahawks. Public opinion surrounding Riley is that he is the man to turn the Trojans back to an elite program. Riley commanded high powered Oklahoma Sooners teams over the past few years, known most notably for his ability to develop the quarterback position. Riley played in key role in the development of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, three QBs who all hold starting jobs on NFL teams. Riley has only missed on Arizona product Spencer Rattler, who might just have too much of an attitude for Riley to handle. All signs also point towards QB Caleb Williams to be a future first round pick who plays under the guidance of Riley in his final Sooner season. Now it is time for Riley to take over a different QB room in USC, highlighted by the youngster Jaxson Dart. A 4-star QB from the 2021 class, scouts have a high regard for the Utah product. However the biggest storyline with this move for Riley is the recruiting shake up. As of today, Oklahoma has lost commitment from several notable prospects, some of those being 2023 5-star QB Malachi Nelson, 2023 5-star WR Brandon Inniss, and 2022 5-star RB Raleek Brown. So not only has Riley created a seismic shift with his departure at Oklahoma, Riley's recruiting should lead to a surplus of talent heading way to USC.

What Does Oklahoma Do Going Forward?

    With Oklahoma losing their golden ticket in Lincoln Riley, the program needs to acquire the best possible coach/recruiter in order to be prepared for a transition into the SEC in 2025. Now without their blue chip prospects decommitting from Oklahoma in the 2022 and 2023 classes, Oklahoma must act fast in order to create an image and brand players want to come play for. Who are some potential candidates for Oklahoma to land at head coach? Well I think there's a couple of guys who fit the qualifications. I believe if they are looking for someone within college football, I believe Matt Campbell and Lane Kiffin could fill in well for Riley's absence. Kiffin has coached at big time schools and wouldn't be afraid to lead a team into the SEC in 2025. Campbell has been a top coaching name for a couple of years, and Oklahoma would be competing with LSU as the top destinations for him in terms of openings. I think the crown jewel would be prying Urban Meyer away from the NFL to return to college. Meyer has everything they could want in a replacement coach, and it wouldn't surprise me if he could bring those top guys back. However, Urban couldn't be hired until after the NFL season, which would complicate the decisions for 2022 recruits. Kliff Kingsbury has become a rumored candidate, but I can't see a coach leaving the NFL while he has his team atop the league.

    In other news what does this mean for Oklahoma's roster right now? Well some analysts are going as far as saying Caleb Williams will join Rattler in the transfer pool and head over to USC to continue playing with Riley. I don't think so however, as I believe Williams will stick with what he has at Oklahoma for the time being. However I believe Oklahoma needs to act quick on this decision with HC. With national signing day approaching ever so quickly, recruits with Oklahoma atop their boards aren't going to want to sign with a team where they don't know who will be coaching them in the Fall.

Prediction: Oklahoma Brings in a Big Name Coach, But Don't Get Back their Blue Chip Recruits

What Does USC Do Going Forward?

    USC now finds themselves in the best position in over a decade. They brought in a coach and recruiter who is elite at both. Not only that, Lincoln Riley is someone quarterbacks want to come play for. With two 4-star QBs already on the team, Lincoln will most definitely bring in his share of blue chip quarterbacks in his tenure. A QB in the class of 2023 might already be eyeing the Trojans, as Southern California native Malachi Nelson might want to stay home and play for the coach who got him to commit to Oklahoma in the first place. Same goes for the other Southern California Oklahoma recruits who just decommitted. Riley's connection with these players will only make it easier, with now the lure of making these players hometown legends. And yes, Lincoln won't just bring in quarterbacks, as his coaching resume serves as enough for all players to want to wear the Trojan colors. The way things are looking early on, Lincoln could turn this program into a Pac-12 winner his first season on campus in 2022.

    In regards to the roster at USC right now, I think the only player who could potentially enter the transfer portal is Jaxson Dart. Despite the praise I've bestowed on him, Dart might find himself as the odd man out in an extremely talented QB room in two years. However, it makes more sense Miller Moss transfers and Riley begins sculpting the roster to his liking.

Prediction: Lincoln Riley Underperforms Drastically High Expectations in 2022, But Brings USC to a CFP by 2025