If the Broncos look for a new coach, it won’t be Lincoln Riley

Broncos: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners runs alongside quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Broncos: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners runs alongside quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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If the Denver Broncos decide to move on from head coach Vic Fangio after the 2021 regular season, he won’t be replaced by Lincoln Riley.

If the Denver Broncos are unable to make it to the postseason and they decide to move on from head coach Vic Fangio, we know at least one potential candidate that will not be available for the job.

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley has shaken up the college football landscape with his decision to reportedly leave the OU program and head out west.

Riley has reportedly accepted the head coaching position for the USC Trojans.

Lincoln Riley will not be the next Denver Broncos head coach

For the last couple of years, Riley has been one of the most coveted head coaching “prospects” for NFL teams in need. He’s always been pretty bullish about not going to the NFL, but of course, money talks and everyone has a price.

We’re not going to see Riley turn in his OU visor for an NFL visor, but USC clearly made him an offer he couldn’t pass up on.

The Denver Broncos have a big matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers as I’m typing up this article. Coming out of the bye week with a record of 5-5, the pressure is certainly on head coach Vic Fangio and the team to perform at a high level with five division games among the team’s final seven.

The Broncos getting Riley was probably a major longshot anyway, but you never know. General manager George Paton seems like a pretty convincing guy.

Riley’s move to USC shakes up the entire college football landscape, not just the Big 12 or ACC. Oklahoma is slated to move to the SEC in the future and Riley not being there is a huge deal for them. There was also a chance LSU could have pried him away from the Sooners program, but they obviously didn’t make as tempting of an offer as the Trojans did.

USC has never had issues with recruiting players, but Lincoln Riley joining their program certainly boosts their chances to return to national prominence. It’s been a while since they were in that discussion, to be honest.

For the time being, the Denver Broncos don’t have to worry about this anyway, but if that day does come, one of the top coaches at the college ranks won’t be available for taking any calls.