University of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley has agreed to become the next head coach of the USC Trojans, according to sources who spoke with Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. In turn, the Sooners’ own search is underway, and they’re targeting Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). 
Kingsbury still has one full year remaining on his deal and it’s not clear if he’d consider a return to the college ranks. Given his recent success, it’d be nothing short of shocking. At 9-2, the Cardinals are bonafide contenders for the first time in a long time.
Kingsbury made his name at Texas Tech, even though his teams went just 35-40 during his time there. In an era where new bowls continue to spawn, the Red Raiders only qualified for bowl games in three of those six seasons. There was also a noticeable drop from the final Patrick Mahomes season (fifth in scoring) to the post-Mahomes teams — 23rd in points in 2017, 100th in 2018 — for the Red Raiders’ offense.
Despite the hiccups, Kingsbury’s quarterback-whispering skills scored him the Cardinals’ job, ahead of several big-name candidates with pro experience. Now, in Year 3, there’s no questioning that the Cardinals made the right pick. Even with Kyler Murray sidelined and Colt McCoy under center, Kingsbury’s Cardinals have managed to go 2-1 in their last three games.
The Cardinals will look to pad their NFC lead next Sunday when they face the Bears in Chicago.
Good article
Right on point
Don’t see it happening….and honestly as a sooner fan/alum, I don’t want him.
Rather have Joe Brady, Aranda, Georgia DC, or Fickell
OU will burn in hell before they get Dave Aranda!
Well after Briles tenure there, we would be joining Baylor already there.
Whichever football team gets Dan Lanning as their head coach is getting an absolute gem!!
Georgia’s current DC has had a long road to get to where he is now, even for as young as he is (35), but he’s gained a ton of quality experience along the way.
He coached ST, WR, and DBs as a high school assistant coach from 2008-20010. From there he went on a tour as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh and Arizona State. At Arizona State and then Sam Houston State he also held the role of recruiting coordinator, and it was Sam Houston State where he earned his first college position coaching job as their DBs coach.
In 2015, Lanning got the job that would ultimately help him land his first big break as he worked as a graduate assistant at Bama. Then, in 2016-2017, Lanning earned his first big time gig as Memphis’ ILB coach and their recruiting coordinator.
In 2018 Kirby brought Lanning on board to coach the University of Georgia Bulldogs OLB, and it didn’t take long for Kirby to realize he had just acquired a man with an extremely bright future ahead of him. Lanning worked wonders with his players and on the recruiting trail, no doubt due to all of his previous experience as a recruiting coordinator.
After Mel Tucker left for Colorado, Kirby instantly knew who he would pick to take Tucker’s place, and Lanning was named UGA’s DC/OLB with Glenn Schumann working as Lanning’s right hand man and as his co-DC. If it wasn’t for Muschamp being hired, Schumann would likely be Lanning’s heir.
The only issue for Lanning, for me, would be that he would have to hire an experienced play caller as his OC. If he does that, then I don’t have any doubt that Lanning won’t soon be one of the bigger names in college football HC circles..
Lanning is an excellent leader, he brings a high level of energy to everything he does, he’s an excellent recruiter, and he’s one of the more brighter defensive minds, especially for only being 35.
Wow we all just read Dan Lannings resume without asking for it. Must be his agent.
Kingsbury will just leverage this into a monster extension with Arizona, as he should.
Correct. He should.
Hope he takes that job. Not a fan. They win despite him and his game management.
Riley got out just in time before Oklahoma get run over by the SEC. If Kingsbury takes that job then he is not as smart as he thinks he is.
OU has a winning record against the SEC, but continue with your false narrative.
Are you including Missouri in those numbers? Playing the SEC occasionally and playing them every week are not the same.
Only reason Klingsbury takes the job is if he is only in it for the money
I’m honestly a bit disappointed in Riley. Oklahoma was about to join the SEC, and it kind of seems like he chose to run away from a higher level of competition, and he chose to take the job where he could once again fairly easily lead a conference without any true powerhouse teams.
Riley at USC is going to be dominant for sure. He’s going to get alot of the West Coasts best offensive players and athletes, and yet he’s still also going to be able to dip into Texas to steal away some of the best defensive players alongside the prospects he’s able to get in just Cali alone.
History likely won’t look poorly on Riley, especially if he has the reign of a Pete Carroll at USC, but for now, it sure seems like he’s tucking his tail between his legs and running from the challenge of competing in the SEC…/:
Anyone taking the USC job was running away from higher levels of competition. James Franklin would have been running away from a higher level of competition. The PAC 10 is the easiest route to a playoff game other than the ACC at this point. He got out while his stock was high, cashed in and moves to a school that can recruit itself
I’m reading Brent Venables back to OU.
No way he leaves a good NFL gig for Oklahoma.
I really believe colleges should try to promote from within. I can’t recall any coach giving up a NFL head coach job for a college gig then making his way back to the NFL. There was talk at one time that Jim Harbaugh would go this route but so far he’s still with Michigan.