Skip Bayless Slams Lincoln Riley in Scathing Tweet After USC's Last-Minute Victory Over LSU

Lincoln Riley's USC Trojans pulled off a dramatic late-game rally to defeat No. 13 LSU 27-20 in their season opener on Sunday night in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic. With just 8 seconds left, running back Woody Marks broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run, sealing the victory for USC.

This comeback, led by new starting quarterback Miller Moss, might just prove USC belongs among the elite in the Big Ten entering its first season in the conference. Moss, stepping into the shoes of former Heisman winner Caleb Williams, threw for 378 yards and a touchdown, leading the Trojans on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in the winning score.

For USC fans, the win against a strong SEC opponent like LSU renews hope. However, not everyone shared their excitement. Riley, whose decision-making and loyalty have been questioned since his departure from Oklahoma, still has his detractors—including one of his most vocal critics, Skip Bayless.

Following the Trojans victory, Bayless took to social media to air his disdain for Riley once again, posting: "I'm sorry, but I will always root against Lincoln Riley."

The post was a continuation of a long-standing grudge that Bayless, a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners fan, has harbored since Riley's abrupt departure from Norman in 2021.

Bayless’s disdain for Riley began when the coach left Oklahoma for USC, taking with him the Sooners' star quarterback, Caleb Williams. For Bayless, this felt like a betrayal, as Riley had not only left Oklahoma in a tough spot but had also seemingly orchestrated a future powerhouse at USC with several key transfers, including Williams.

To add salt to the wound, Bayless was particularly critical of Riley's decision-making during his last season at Oklahoma—especially when Riley benched Williams for Spencer Rattler in a pivotal game against Baylor. Bayless argued that Riley’s move cost the Sooners the game and represented a lack of faith in Williams, who was considered the program's future.

Despite his obvious frustration, Bayless's complaints about Riley seem unfounded when looking at the coach’s record at Oklahoma (55-10). Riley turned Oklahoma into a perennial College Football Playoff contender, winning four Big 12 Championships and producing back-to-back Heisman winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.

The tension only increased when USC struggled defensively in his first two seasons, despite boasting the No. 1 NFL Draft pick in Williams, who will be starting for the Chicago Bears this season. Bayless has gone as far as labeling Riley “Stinkin’ Lincoln” and insisting that the Trojans coach cannot lead a team to a national championship with such poor defensive play.

With the hopes of fixing the defensive woes of the past two seasons, Riley hired D’Anton Lynn out of UCLA as the new defensive coordinator for this year. On Sunday night, USC held LSU to 20 points. They held just two opponents to 20 points or less last season.

The win against LSU is a significant step for Riley and his Trojans, who are trying to solidify their place in the Big Ten and compete for a national title. But for Bayless, it’s yet another opportunity to criticize Riley.

Bayless recently suggested that if USC were to part ways with Riley, former Trojans coach Pete Carroll could be the answer to bring back the glory days. It’s clear Bayless believes that Riley’s legacy is tainted, and unless he delivers consistent success at USC, he will never be in Bayless's good graces.

As Riley continues his journey at USC, he’ll need to keep winning big games and improving his defense to silence critics like Bayless. The Trojans’ opener against LSU was a promising start, but tougher challenges lie ahead in the Big Ten.

USC will host Utah State next weekend before they make a trip to the Big House to face Michigan in their first Big Ten matchup on Sept. 21.