Lincoln Riley on Alex Grinch firing - USC has 'lot to play for' - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — USC head coach Lincoln Riley said Monday that the decision to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch with two games left in USC's regular season was made in large part because the Trojans still have «a lot to play for» this year.

«We simply weren't making the progress I think we all expected to make,» Riley said. «It just felt like it was in the best interest of our program.»

At 7-3 and 5-2 in conference play, USC would need to beat Oregon and UCLA in its last two matchups and receive some major help from its conference counterparts to make it to the Pac-12 title game for the second straight season under Riley. But, as the second-year coach expressed a belief that the Trojans are «two snaps» from being undefeated, he remained adamant that they still have a shot at turning the season around.

«If we were in a situation where we didn't have a whole lot left to play for in terms of a conference championship, [I] might feel a little bit different,» Riley said of the decision. «But we are very laser focused on these opportunities ahead, and then whatever comes next after that, we'll deal with it at the appropriate time.»

One source close to the program told ESPN that pressure from two of USC's biggest donors also played a factor in the timing of the move. But when asked Monday if anyone else had any input on the decision to fire Grinch, Riley shot the notion down.

«It was my decision,» he said.

Riley said that he rewatched USC's 52-42 loss to Washington Saturday night and lost sleep over the decision before reaching a conclusion on Sunday and relieving Grinch of his duties. Grinch, who was Oklahoma's defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021 before leaving for USC alongside Riley, led a unit that allowed an average