USC football coach Lincoln Riley was paid just over $11.5 million by the university in 2023. His base compensation ranked No. 4 nationally.

In 2022, USC reported $19.7 million in total compensation for Riley, whose buyout at Oklahoma resulted in $4.5 million payed by the Trojans. Less than $10 million was categorized as base compensation. Entering the 2025 season, Riley sits fourth among college football's highest-paid coaches with a $10.04 million expected salary.

The biggest obstacle college football teams face is continuity. For USC, that is easier than for other programs this year throughout the nation. Understanding w