Barry Switzer believes he understands why Lincoln Riley unexpectedly departed Oklahoma to accept the USC job in late 2021.
Riley was in the middle of a 10-2 season at Oklahoma in 2021 when it was announced that he would leave the Sooners to take the USC job. After Riley left, Bob Stoops coached Oklahoma in the bowl game, which they won.
So, why did Riley depart for the Trojans?
During a recent appearance on OutKick’s “Don’t @ me with Dan Dakich,” Switzer stated that Riley resigned because he was not informed about the Sooners’ move to the SEC.
“I believe it is because Lincoln was not part in the decision to go with the SEC. They did not even ask him about it. Switzer told Dakich, “And then he was like, ‘We just heard about it.'”
Oklahoma and Texas have accepted invitations to join the Southeastern Conference in late July 2021, a month before the football season begins.
Riley may have been irritated because he was not consulted about the transfer, but it’s also possible that Riley simply did not want to coach the Sooners in the conference. The SEC was already regarded as the premier conference in college football. The conference will undoubtedly get tougher with Oklahoma and Texas entering.
Though Riley moved to pursue a seemingly simpler position, USC announced in 2022 that they will be joining a Big Ten that has become stronger with the additions of the Trojans, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.
Riley finished 11-3 in his first season at USC. However, his 8-5 season last year left fans unhappy and asking for the coach’s dismissal.
