After USC’s 41-27 loss to Oregon, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum called Lincoln Riley “a complete fraud” and criticized his handling of linebacker Desman Stephens II’s helmet-to-helmet hit that knocked Oregon quarterback Dante Moore out; Stephens was suspended for one game.
Finebaum said Riley had the same record at this point in his USC tenure as Clay Helton did before he was fired. He put the cost of dismissing Riley at about $70 million, compared with about $10 million for Helton.
Riley called Stephens’s actions “unacceptable.” Finebaum said Riley did not decide on a suspension until Sunday and credited Oregon coach Dan Lanning with keeping his players calm. No. 18 USC is 4-1 and hosts Washington on Saturday, Oct. 3.
