Lincoln Riley earns $11.5 million for 2025, ranking 3rd nationally despite never reaching CFP. USC generates approximately $138 million in football revenue during first full Big Ten season, with athletic department reporting $356 million total.
USC’s NIL landscape fragmented after Student Body Right collective shut down following founder’s death in 2022, forcing athletes to secure individual deals rather than receiving promised $50,000 base salaries.
Know more about the USC Trojans players biography and net worth by clicking on their name.
| Quarterbacks (QB) | Running Backs (RB) | Wide Receivers (WR) |
| Dylan Gebbia | Bryan Jackson | Zachariah Branch |
| Jake Jensen | Quinten Joyner | Asante Das |
| Jayden Maiava | Cian McKelvey | Jay Fair |
| Miller Moss | King Miller | Collin Fasse |
| Gage Roy | A’Marion Peterson | Kyle Ford |
| Jack Stupin | Kyron Hudson | |
| Xavier Jordan | ||
| Brady Jung | ||
| Ja’Kobi Lane | ||
| Makai Lemon | ||
| Corey Nerhus | ||
| Jaden Richardson | ||
| Duce Robinson | ||
| Charles Ross | ||
| Donovan Wood | ||
| Josiah Zamora | ||
| Seth Zamora |
Top 10 Highest Paid USC Football Staff 2024-2025
| Rank | Name | Position | Annual Salary | Contract Length | Total Contract Value |
| 1 | Lincoln Riley | Head Coach | $11,537,560 | Through 2031 | $110,000,000 |
| 2 | D’Anton Lynn | Defensive Coordinator | $2,650,000 | Through 2028 | $10,600,000 |
| 3 | Josh Henson | Offensive Coordinator | $1,500,000 | Through 2026 | N/A |
| 4 | Eric Henderson | Co-DC/Defensive Line | $1,100,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 5 | Zach Hanson | Offensive Line | $950,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 6 | Dennis Simmons | Wide Receivers | $850,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 7 | Brennan Carroll | Tight Ends | $800,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 8 | Shaun Nua | Assistant Head Coach | $750,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 9 | Donte Williams | Cornerbacks | $700,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 10 | Alex Grinch | Safeties | $650,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
D’Anton Lynn’s $2.65 million defensive coordinator salary ranks 3rd nationally behind only Penn State’s Jim Knowles ($3.1M) and LSU’s Blake Baker ($2.5M). USC rewarded Lynn with extension after cutting points allowed from 34.4 to 24.1 PPG in his first season.
Josh Henson earns estimated $1.5 million as offensive coordinator. USC’s total assistant pool exceeds $10 million annually, ranking 4th in Big Ten behind Ohio State ($11.8M), Michigan ($10.5M), and Oregon ($12.5M), demonstrating Riley’s preference investing in elite coordinators.
USC Football Program Revenue Breakdown 2024-2025
| Revenue Source | Est. Amount | % of Total | Conference Rank | National Rank |
| Football Revenue | $138,000,000 | 100% | 5th Big Ten | 8th National |
| Big Ten Media Rights | $32,500,000 | 23.6% | 17th Big Ten | Top 25 |
| Ticket Sales | $48,000,000 | 34.8% | 5th Big Ten | Top 10 |
| Contributions/Donations | $42,000,000 | 30.4% | 5th Big Ten | Top 12 |
| Licensing/Merchandise | $12,500,000 | 9.1% | 3rd Big Ten | Top 15 |
| Other Revenue | $3,000,000 | 2.1% | N/A | N/A |
USC generates approximately $138 million in football revenue, ranking 8th nationally and 5th in Big Ten behind Ohio State ($254.9M), Michigan ($238M), Penn State ($235M), and Oregon ($130M).
The Trojans’ athletic department reported $356 million total revenue in 2023-24.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s 77,500 capacity generates $48 million in ticket sales despite on-field struggles. USC’s Hollywood location and passionate alumni base maintain premium pricing even as the Trojans post consecutive 7-5 regular seasons under Riley.
Big Ten media rights will distribute approximately $32.5 million annually to USC through 2030-31 before increasing to full $65 million share.
This reduced initial distribution mirrors Oregon’s deal, reflecting late entry into conference media negotiations already completed.
USC Top NIL Earners & Fragmented Collective Landscape
| Player Name | Position | Est. NIL Value | Top NIL Deal | Total Deals |
| Miller Moss (transferred) | Quarterback | $1,500,000 | Louisville collective | Multiple |
| Jayden Maiava | Quarterback | $800,000 | Individual sponsors | 3+ deals |
| Zachariah Branch | Wide Receiver | $700,000 | Regional partners | 4+ deals |
| Mason Murphy | Defensive Line | $600,000 | Local businesses | 3+ deals |
| Bear Alexander | Defensive Tackle | $550,000 | Multiple brands | 2+ deals |
Miller Moss transferred to Louisville with $1.5 million NIL valuation after USC benched him mid-2024 season.
His departure exposed USC’s NIL disadvantages—Louisville offered structured collective support while USC relies on fragmented individual sponsorships post-Student Body Right shutdown.
Student Body Right collective shut down October 2022 after founder Barry Sternlicht’s death. The collective promised $50,000 annual base salaries to all football players but closed before fulfilling commitments, forcing USC athletes securing individual deals through BLVD agency partnerships.
USC allocates estimated $12-15 million NIL support across football roster, trailing UCLA ($18M), Oregon ($23M), and Ohio State ($20M) in Big Ten.
The Trojans’ private school status prevents direct university NIL funding, creating recruiting disadvantages versus public Big Ten powerhouses.
How Much Does Lincoln Riley Make at USC?
Lincoln Riley earns $11.537 million for 2025, ranking 3rd nationally behind Kirby Smart ($13.28M) and Ryan Day ($12.5M). His ten-year $110 million contract signed in 2021 included $4.5 million Oklahoma buyout paid by USC.
Riley’s 2023 total compensation exceeded $11.5 million including $100,000 bonus and $1.15 million other reportable compensation. USC also provided housing loan with $3.43 million balance showing zero principal payments through 2023, effectively interest-free living arrangement.
His buyout remains undisclosed but estimated at $50-60 million through 2031. Despite 22-14 record (.611 winning percentage) and zero conference championships, Riley’s contract structure makes termination financially prohibitive for USC through at least 2027-28 season.
USC vs UCLA: Which Program Spends More?
Lincoln Riley’s $11.537 million salary exceeds UCLA’s DeShaun Foster at estimated $5 million by $6.5 million, reflecting USC’s private school resources versus UCLA’s state budget constraints. Riley ranks 3rd nationally while Foster doesn’t crack top 50.
Total program revenue favors USC at $138 million versus UCLA’s estimated $95 million, a $43 million gap (45% advantage). USC’s private fundraising flexibility and Coliseum premium seating generate substantially higher contributions and ticket revenue than Rose Bowl operations.
NIL spending shows UCLA advantage. The Bruins’ collective reportedly operates with $18 million football budget versus USC’s fragmented $12-15 million individual approach.
UCLA’s structured collective support proves more attractive to transfers like Miller Moss despite USC’s higher overall athletic budget.
FAQs
How much does Lincoln Riley make?
Lincoln Riley earns $11.537 million for 2025, ranking 3rd nationally. His ten-year $110 million contract includes housing loan with $3.43 million balance showing zero principal reduction through 2023.
What happened to USC’s NIL collective?
Student Body Right collective shut down October 2022 after founder Barry Sternlicht’s death. The collective promised $50,000 base salaries to all football players but closed before fulfilling commitments.
What is D’Anton Lynn’s salary?
D’Anton Lynn earns $2.65 million as USC’s defensive coordinator through 2028, ranking 3rd nationally. His extension rewarded cutting points allowed from 34.4 to 24.1 PPG in first season.
How much does USC make from football?
USC generates approximately $138 million in football revenue, ranking 8th nationally. Big Ten media rights provide $32.5 million annually through 2030-31 before doubling to full $65 million share.
