Even with all the news about UCF being in talks with Scott Frost for their vacant head coaching position, it seems Frost isn't the only one UCF is interested in. Athletic director Terry Mohajir is swinging for the fences with who he reached out to for the head football coach position.
The Athletic reported that UCF made calls to USC about head coach Lincoln Riley to see if the Knights could bring him across the country to coach in Orlando.
REPORT: UCF has made inquiries about Lincoln Riley for its head coach opening, per @TheAthletic.https://t.co/DlOM28aTid pic.twitter.com/BWt5aeq5fG
— On3 (@On3sports) December 4, 2024
According to the Athletic, UCF reached out to USC about Lincoln Riley, but Riley is three years into a 10-year deal that he signed with the Trojans when he left Oklahoma in 2021. While we don't know what Riley's contract looks like due to USC being a private school, if he was fired, the school would be paying a hefty buyout.
If Riley were to leave USC for UCF, the Knights would have to find some money in the couch cushions because he would not come cheap. However, it doesn't seem the stars are going to align for UCF at this time when it comes to getting Riley.
According to three anonymous people privy to the conversations between UCF and USC, there is no indication that Riley is interested in leaving USC for another coaching position and won't be going to UCF. While this is tough to hear for UCF fans, it should also be reassuring that Mohajir isn't just going the easy way with Frost because he would be a cheap hire.
UCF is also in talks with many other potential hires, but an announcement probably won't come for a few more weeks.