Lincoln Riley took shots at the SEC this week, implying it was the only conference paying players before NIL. But Riley’s own history tells a much different story.
On today’s Rise & Shine College Football, Jason Watkins and guest Marcus Dent break down the full timeline of controversies surrounding Lincoln Riley since leaving Oklahoma for USC — including allegations that OU assistant Roy Manning recruited players toward USC before Riley even left Norman, repeated tampering accusations involving Jordan Addison at Pitt before the transfer portal opened, and a growing pattern of avoiding elite competition.
We’ll also dive into Riley’s decision to bolt Oklahoma just before its SEC move, USC canceling a series with Ole Miss, an attempted escape from a neutral-site opener against LSU, and the successful dismantling of the historic USC–Notre Dame rivalry.
This isn’t about hate — it’s about credibility, competition, and receipts.
👇 Join the conversation live and tell us:
Did Lincoln Riley leave Oklahoma to avoid the SEC?