The NCAA announced Tuesday that USC’s football program will be placed on probation for a year over coaching violations, per 247Sports’ Connor Morrissette.
In its statement, the NCAA alleged the team “exceeded the allowable number of coaches over two academic years” when eight analysts performed on- and off-field duties from 2022-2023.
The Trojans will now have to adhere to certain restrictions imposed by the NCAA. So, what does that mean for their 2025 season?
Head coach Lincoln Riley will not be suspended. The NCAA determined he did not have responsibility in the matter, as regulations attaching blame for staff violations on head coaches were adopted after he was hired and the breaches were in progress.
The program will, however, have to pay a $50,000 fine on top of analysts being restricted from practice and football-related activities for multiple days next year. USC also self-imposed a “reduction in countable athletically related activities for the football program by 24 hours” during this season.
In layman’s terms, it’s a slap on the wrist for low-level coaches performing duties when they weren’t supposed to be.
There should be little to no impact on USC’s on-field performances next season. Other programs have been punished far more for similar infractions.
Arizona State self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for the 2023 season on top of show-cause penalties being assessed to head coach Herm Edwards and defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce for recruitment violations during the NCAA’s COVID-19 “dead period” in 2020.
USC (4-5) has had a disappointing debut in the Big Ten conference this season, going 2-5, after entering the year with College Football Playoff hopes.
So far, Riley has not been speculated to be on the coaching hot seat, but if things do not improve in 2025, then that could change.
These punishments, no matter how trivial, are not a good start to that improvement effort.
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