Lincoln Riley told reporters on Saturday after Oklahoma's loss to Oklahoma State that he would not be leaving the Sooners for the LSU coaching position. The lie detector has determined that was a true statement.
Riley is not heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Instead, he will pack his bags and head further west after accepting the USC coaching gig, according to The Athletic.
#Sooners coach Lincoln Riley: “Let me stop you right there. I’m not going to be the next coach at LSU. Next question.”
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) November 28, 2021
MORE: Who is Billy Napier? Meet Florida's new head coach replacing Dan Mullen
Riley has been an immensely successful coach with the Sooners, taking them to the College Football Playoff in three of his previous five seasons. As of Sunday, he has a career coaching record of 55-10 at the helm of the Sooners. Oklahoma's hopes of another CFP run were all but completely wiped out on Saturday when they lost 37-33 to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will play Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, marking the first time in the Riley era that Oklahoma will not be the conference champion.
MORE: Updated AP Top 25, Coaches Poll after Week 13
Now, with Oklahoma set to join the SEC in four years, Riley is off to the Pac-12 to take the vacancy of another storied college football program. All time, USC has a record of 856-359 with seven national championships in the AP Poll era, while Oklahoma has a record of 936-331 and seven titles.
MORE: Ed Orgeron won't coach LSU in bowl game
Twitter was ready to hit Riley with the receipts for his quick turnaround from publicly saying that he will not be the next LSU coach to turning around less than 24 hours later and reportedly accepting the USC position.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 28, 2021
USC while everyone is tossing around Lincoln Riley to LSU rumors pic.twitter.com/fTZmCoW8VW
— Bunkie Perkins (@BunkiePerkins) November 28, 2021
“I’m not going to be the next head coach at LSU” pic.twitter.com/iYFPZJf6rw
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 28, 2021
LSU and Oklahoma fans interacting on this app after both being wrong about Lincoln Riley pic.twitter.com/imsKwRNCHS
— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley just wanted to join The Alliance™️
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley turning down LSU and an SEC-bound Oklahoma for USC is exactly the kind of move I’d pull in an NCAA Dynasty Mode, I have no choice but to respect it
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 28, 2021
“I said I wasn’t going to be the head coach of LSU. I didn’t say USC.” - Lincoln Riley pic.twitter.com/XvUmXY1Uo7
— Tony Cabrera-Steele (@_TonyCabrera) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley denying LSU rumors knowing he's actually heading to USC pic.twitter.com/QWSSRuNhEH
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 28, 2021
This exchange last night was handled brilliantly by Lincoln Riley.
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) November 28, 2021
He interrupted the question to say he would not be the next head coach at LSU. Even though the reporter never mentioned LSU.
Riley was being honest. And savvy.pic.twitter.com/nbHsCQjr99
Report: Lincoln Riley are you going to LSU Next HC next season in SEC
— YOUR FAV CAR SALESMAN (@Trey2Trigger) November 28, 2021
Lincoln Riley: pic.twitter.com/BGYHvBULwK
Lincoln Riley saw Florida just fire Dan Mullen, Bryan Harsin’s struggles at Auburn, LSU fire Coach O two years after winning a national championship, Alabama and Georgia doing what they do, and the looming move of Oklahoma to the SEC and said hell nah y’all can have that 😂 pic.twitter.com/cjDYjfqx01
— Pablo Escobarner (blue check) (@PabloEscoburner) November 28, 2021
