UNDATED (AP) — Lincoln Riley is leaving one great college football tradition for another.
Southern California has lured Riley away from Oklahoma in a stunning move that suddenly puts the Sooners’ situation in limbo.
Riley went 55-10 in five seasons leading the Sooners, winning four Big 12 titles and making three College Football Playoff appearances in his first head coaching job. The 38-year-old Texan is widely considered one of the top offensive minds in the college game.
The Trojans say Riley will immediately transition to USC, although interim coach Donte Williams will lead the team in its season finale at California on Saturday night.
USC fired Clay Helton in September of his seventh season in charge.
In other college football news:
— David Cutcliffe won’t return for a 15th season as Duke’s football coach. The school has announced a “mutual agreement for separation” following the Blue Devils’ winless Atlantic Coast Conference record. Duke just closed a three-win season with a 47-10 home loss to Miami.
— A person familiar with the search says Louisiana-Lafayette’s Billy Napier will be Florida’s next football coach, ending a quick process that landed the Gators their top target. Napier is expected to remain with the Ragin Cajuns this week as they prepare to host Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference championship game Saturday. Napier will then take over for Dan Mullen, who was fired last week after the team’s fourth loss in five games.
