USC coach says he is staying put as Trojans sit at 6-2

Lincoln Riley says he is not looking for the exit at USC.

The Trojans are 6-2 and their College Football Playoff hopes are thin after a loss to Wisconsin. No. 2 Ohio State visits this Saturday. USC has no ranked wins this season; its two losses came to Oregon and unranked Wisconsin. Three Power Four jobs are open.

Riley, in his fifth year at USC, said he left Oklahoma for Los Angeles and has not changed his mind. "I love it here," he said. "I've told you guys many times. There's not many people in college football history who gave up what I gave up to come here. I don't care if it's 15 years down the line. That should never be taken lightly, and it's not taken lightly by me. I came here because this is where I wanted to be. I came here because I believe in this place, and none of that has changed whatsoever."

Riley won 11 games in his first season at USC. He has not reached 10 wins since, and he has not made the College Football Playoff. He said expectations have followed him since his first year at Oklahoma. "Every single year I've went in with high standards and championship expectations," Riley said. "The first loss I had at Oklahoma, I didn't think I was gonna be able to get out of bed the next morning. On top of that, there were people trying to run me out of town right away. I learned a lesson pretty quick that the highs and lows of this thing, if you let those get to you, then you're not the right person for the job."

Athletic director Jennifer Cohen did not hire Riley. He called their relationship "fantastic" and said, "She's a tremendous AD. Even though she's not the AD I came here with, and I'm not the coach she hired, we have a fantastic relationship. She's been a huge part of all the progress we've made and has been incredibly supportive."

A win over Ohio State would open up a path to the playoff for USC. Another loss in a major game would bring more questions about Riley's future when he next addresses reporters.