Keyshawn Johnson Slams USC as 'F—ing Joke,' Calls for Lincoln Riley's Firing

Legendary USC receiver Keyshawn Johnson has publicly declared the USC football program a "f—ing joke" and urged for the dismissal of head coach Lincoln Riley following the Trojans' recent 24-7 road loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.

Johnson, a prominent voice on the team's performance, released a nearly three-minute video detailing his frustration. "Enough is enough," Johnson stated, expressing his disbelief at the team's performance, particularly after being "run out of the building" by Wisconsin.

The Trojans' offense struggled significantly during the game. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 31 of 50 passes for 258 yards but threw two interceptions in the first quarter alone. The offensive line also allowed five sacks, and the running game faltered, amassing a mere -17 rushing yards. Running back King Miller managed only eight yards on 11 carries.

Johnson contrasted USC's performance with that of UCLA, which had achieved a 7-0 record under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. He also extended congratulations to Wisconsin's head coach, Luke Fickell, praising his team's effort and suggesting Fickell might be a suitable candidate for the USC job.

Despite stating his respect for Riley, Johnson asserted that a separation between the coach and the program is necessary. "Sometimes tough decisions have got to be made. Whether you want to whether you don’t. They gotta be made," Johnson said, directly addressing USC's financial boosters, administration, and "financial people" to make the difficult choice regarding Riley's future.

Should USC decide to part ways with Riley, the financial implications would be substantial, with an expected buyout in the region of $70 million.