Southern California's football program has been fined $50,000 and placed on probation for one year by the NCAA due to multiple violations of coaching staff rules over two seasons. The NCAA and USC reached a settlement in the case, as announced on Tuesday.
An NCAA investigation revealed that USC exceeded the allowed number of countable coaches during the 2022 season and spring practices in 2023. Eight analysts were found to have conducted on- and off-field coaching during that period, surpassing the permissible number by six.
It was determined that head coach Lincoln Riley violated head coach responsibility rules, but he will not face suspension. The NCAA modified its rules regarding the number of coaches and their duties in January 2023, with head coach responsibilities transitioning from a rebuttable presumption to an automatic attachment.
The NCAA stated that Riley, not being directly involved in the violations and demonstrating a commitment to compliance and staff monitoring, successfully rebutted his presumed responsibility for the infractions that occurred before the rule change. Consequently, a suspension penalty for Riley was deemed inappropriate.
USC, currently 4-5 overall and 2-4 in its inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference, faces a probationary period amidst a challenging season. Riley, who assumed the USC head coaching position after a successful tenure at Oklahoma, has a record of 12-10 over the past two years.
As part of the settlement, USC will have restrictions on its special teams analyst's participation in practice and film review for six consecutive days during two weeks of the 2024-25 season. Additionally, the remaining analysts will be barred from practice and film review for six consecutive days during four weeks of the 2024-25 season.
USC's athletic director, Jen Cohen, emphasized the university's commitment to upholding ethical standards and integrity in its athletic programs. Cohen stated that USC has cooperated with the NCAA enforcement staff and the Committee on Infractions since learning of the potential violations related to the football program in May 2023, taking corrective actions and submitting a negotiated resolution promptly.
