Oregon-USC matchup puts focus on Riley’s job security

Week 4 of the 2026 college football season is bringing a slate of conference matchups, including Oregon’s scheduled visit to USC on Saturday night, a game ESPN analyst Pete Thamel said could sharpen scrutiny of Trojans coach Lincoln Riley if USC loses. The supplied reports preview the games but do not provide results. Oregon-USC is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Thamel said a loss would make it reasonable to consider Riley on the hot seat. He also cited a reported buyout of about $72 million as a factor that could weigh on USC’s decision-making. No USC decision about Riley is reported, and the game’s outcome is not established in the material. The matchup is one of several prominent games on the Week 4 schedule. Texas is set to visit Tennessee, Illinois to play Ohio State, Michigan to face Iowa, and Ole Miss to meet Florida. The weekend slate also includes Northwestern at Indiana, with Indiana scheduled to open its Big Ten title defense. These are scheduled matchups, not reported results. Friday’s schedule includes Navy at UAB in Birmingham, with kickoff listed for 7 p.m. ET at Protective Stadium.