USC Trojans‘ head coach Lincoln Riley is one of 21 coaches named to the 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy is awarded annualy to college football’s top head coach who combines success on the field while also thriving in the areas of scholarship, leadership and integrity. On-field wins are taken into account along with Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community.
The trophy has been awarded annually and began with Georgia’s Vince Dooley winning it in 1976. No USC coach has ever won the award. Florida State’s Mike Norvell won it last season, with Tulane’s Willie Fritz picking it up the year before.
Riley is one of four Big Ten coaches on the preseason watch list, joined by Ryan Day of Ohio State, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa and James Franklin of Penn State.
It’s a big year for Riley on the field with the Trojans. USC joins the Big Ten and has two major non-conference games lined up against LSU and Notre Dame. The spotlight will be on whether Riley gets the quarterback position right following the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, and whether the head coach can finally put a defense together that can help win important games at the end of the season. Pressure on Riley to perform is ramping up. On3’s Jesse Simonton slots Riley in as the No. 2 Big Ten coach under the most pressure heading into this 2024 season.
Not a member, USC fans? Join WeAreSC today!
Have you subscribed to WeAreSC.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our USC coverage for just $1! Read all of WeAreSC’s premium articles and nuggets covering USC sports and recruiting and join thousands of other Trojan fans around the globe on the WeAreSC message board! CLICK HERE!
The post Lincoln Riley named to 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List appeared first on On3.
