MIKERILEYAZTECS.JPG

It's not surprising that Oregon State coach Mike Riley would turn up in speculation about the USC coaching job.

(Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

It didn't take long for Oregon State coach Mike Riley's name to turn up as a possible successor to Lane Kiffin at USC.

Kiffin was fired at LAX in the wee hours of Sunday morning shortly after the USC charter touched down on a return flight from Tempe, Ariz., where the Trojans were blown out by Arizona State.

Athletic director Pat Haden said defensive line coach Ed Orgeron will be the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

And then?

of the Los Angeles Daily News. Wolf has been on the beat for a long time, and is well sourced. Riley's name

SI.com report.

The OSU coach is well regarded at USC, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1993-96. The Trojans like head coaches who have some experience as part of the USC family.

On top of that, Riley is highly respected by people in football for what he has accomplished in Corvallis.

It's not enough for a vocal subset of the OSU fan base, which compares Riley's program to Oregon. It's an unfair comparison. Oregon has more money, better facilities, a bigger fan base, and a larger stadium.

The critics were especially vociferous after the Beavers' season-opening loss to FCS Eastern Washington, although the criticism has muted somewhat in the wake of OSU's four consecutive victories since.

USC would be a tough job, because the Trojans still are hobbling under NCAA scholarship restrictions and the fan base won't accept anything less than success on a national level.

But Riley is 60, and the USC job wouldn't have to be forever.

I think this is something to watch.

OK, more links:

UO coach Mark Helfrich says the

than they did against Cal.

Helfrich reflects on Kiffin's firing and

of De'Anthony Thomas.

A

Oregon's next opponent.

Buffs

with Oregon.

Colorado receiver

the way Oregon State uses Brandin Cooks.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News

on his AP ballot.

ESPN.com Pac-12 guru Ted Miller has

in this week's conference power rankings.

In Corvallis,

is coming at the perfect time.

Did Riley

against Colorado?

The Oregonian's John Canzano writes that

and wonders how quickly the Trojans can overcome it.

Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times:

who was set up to fail.

Stewart Mandel of SI.com:

the day he left Tennessee.

Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times:

Pete Carroll.

Pat Haden

Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times:

went with his gut.

Jill Painter of the Los Angeles Daily News:

to get rid of the circus.

Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com:

from alums and boosters.

Andy Staples of SI.com:

before the situation deteriorated any further.

as USC's interim coach.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News:

is what you get.

Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com:

, but this still is one of the best jobs in college football.

Pat Forde of Yahoo:

think Paul Hackett.

Receiver USC

to play against Arizona.

Arizona coaches and players know

next week.

Anthony Gimino of the Tucson Citizen

Arizona's woeful passing game.

Opponents beware,

of Stanford's arsenal.

Writing in SportsPressNW, Howie Stalwick says

by Stanford, and wonders if Cougars coach Mike Leach is disconnected from reality.

Cal defensive end

the team.

Another

in Autzen Stadium.

At this point,

in school history.

Arizona State's

, the defense still needs work.

Another week,

at Utah's defense.

UCLA

secondary.

The

Duck Sports Now.

The

Beaver Sports Now.

-- Ken Goe