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Lincoln Riley finally made it to a CFP National Championship Game

By Scott Rogust

Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks the field before the CFP national championship game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks the field before the CFP national championship game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley finally made it to the CFP National Championship Game, albeit as a spectator.

The 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game takes place on Monday, Jan. 9.  One of the teams will have a member on the coaching staff with the last name Riley, but it’s not the one everyone’s thinking of.

Of course, the CFP National Championship Game will be between the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs. TCU’s offensive coordinator is Garrett Riley, the younger brother of USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley.

For those sarcastic fans wondering if Lincoln finally made it to the CFP National Championship Game, albeit to watch his brother coach, the answer is yes. There’s video proof of it as well, courtesy of Pro Football Focus’ Dave Sulfaro.

Lincoln Riley makes appearance at CFP National Championship Game

This past weekend, Garrett told the media that Lincoln would be attending the CFP National Championship Game. But Garrett said he won’t be providing his older brother with tickets, saying “I’m sure he can find some tickets.”

Well, it looks as though Lincoln got himself into the game.

The CFP National Championship Game has long eluded Lincoln. He made it into the College Football Playoff in his first three seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, but they never made it to the National Championship Game.

  • 2018: CFP Semifinal at Rose Bowl loss to Georgia 54-48 (2OT)
  • 2019: CFP Semifinal at Orange Bowl loss to Alabama 45-34
  • 2020: CFP Semifinal at Peach Bowl loss to LSU 63-28

Riley made the jump from Oklahoma to USC at the conclusion of the 2021 regular season. The Trojans nearly made it into the College Football Playoff, but lost to the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 Championship Game, their second loss of the season.

The Trojans played in the Cotton Bowl, but lost 46-45 to the Tulane Green Wave after blowing a late 45-30 lead in the fourth quarter.

Lincoln is in attendance to see if his younger brother can win the CFP National Championship.

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