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USC coach Lincoln Riley makes bold claim, says USC is ready to win ‘championships’
Lincoln Riley’s tenure as head coach of the USC Trojans has not lived up to expectations.
While there have been flashes of brilliance, primarily during the 2022 season, his first in LA, SC has yet to reach the College Football Playoff, or compete for a Big Ten Championship. Some of that can be blamed on Riley, as the Trojans’ defense was, to put it mildly, atrocious during his first two years on the job.
Some of the underperformance, however, can also be blamed on USC’s complete lack of preparation for name, image, and likeness-based recruiting.
Despite the wealthy alumni base, location in Los Angeles, and historic success, SC’s athletic department, coaching staff, and donor base were not aligned properly when NIL came into effect. And recruiting suffered. After putting up classes perennially in the top 10 of national rankings, SC dropped to #18 and #15 in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Unsurprisingly, per most analytics-based rankings, that’s just about where the team finished nationally in overall success rate.
Well, thanks to a new general manager, Chad Bowden, better coordination, and weaponizing that prolific donor base, SC brought in the #1 recruiting class in the country for 2026. And Riley is already making some bold claims about it.
“We’re excited Jim, you know, I think this will be the most complete roster that we’ve had here at USC,” Riley said to Jim Rome on a recent episode of “The Jim Rome Show. “We return some really good productive players that we think are teed up to be the best they’ve been in their career, including some positions that historically you would say, ‘hey, this is pretty important’ in terms of returning production at quarterback, offensive line, running back, defensive line.”
Riley explained that it’s not just the returning talent that has him excited, it’s the “great class” they brought in.
“We’ve got, you know, we’ve got quite a bit there, which is exciting starting piece,” he continued. “And then, you know, we brought in a great class. We signed the number one recruiting class in the country.
“You know, it’s been great to get up the majority of those guys here for spring ball. And so that combination from a roster standpoint is excited. And we’ve just gotten a little bit better every single year.”
Riley went a bit further though, saying that this class and the returning talent have them in position to compete for “championships” at USC.
“I think it’s caused for a lot of optimism,” he said. “So yeah, I can’t wait for this season to come up. You know, we came here to win championships. You know, that’s why you come to USC. And we feel like this group is certainly prepared and positioned to do that.”
There’s little doubt that this is Riley’s best roster at SC. The recruiting class, a good transfer class, and important players returning at key positions. Another year of development for Jayden Maiava, Jakheem Stewart, incredible running backs, and so on. The problem is that until SC wins a big game against a marquee opponent that they weren’t “supposed” to win, no one will take him seriously. Yes, Riley beat Notre Dame with Caleb Williams, and had a big win over Michigan at the Coliseum in 2025. But the schedule in 2026 is daunting.
Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington in LA. Penn State, Indiana, and Wisconsin on the road. Plus the rivalry game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. In order to seriously compete for “championships,” Riley needs to beat Ohio State and Oregon, or one of those two plus Indiana and/or Penn State on the road. Having a talented roster is one thing. Delivering on that talent is another. Do that, then start talking.
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Warsh’s $226 million fortune under scrutiny as Fed nominee faces Senate confirmation
Kevin Warsh heads into his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday morning vying to be the richest-ever chair of the Federal Reserve amid mounting questions over his sizable financial portfolio.
Newly released disclosures reveal the extent of Warsh’s wealth but leave key portions of his holdings unclear, which could complicate his path toward confirmation since the position he is up for wields enormous influence over financial markets.
The disclosures are likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers due to potential conflicts of interest and concerns over transparency, both central focuses of the confirmation process — particularly at a time when the central bank’s credibility is already under a microscope.
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According to documents submitted to the Senate last week, Warsh reported assets valued at roughly $135 million to $226 million, positioning him to become the wealthiest chair in the Federal Reserve’s history if confirmed.
The nearly 70-page filings, released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the standard vetting process for senior nominees, detail a portfolio spanning investments, board roles and other financial interests.
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Still, the disclosures leave some gaps.
For example, certain holdings are listed in broad ranges or lack full detail, a common feature of such filings but one that can draw scrutiny when nominees are poised to oversee institutions with vast influence over financial markets.
In fact, a note from a government ethics official attached to the filings says Warsh is currently out of compliance with ethics rules for certain holdings where he did not disclose the funds’ underlying assets.
The Office of Government Ethics said the rest of the filing meets federal requirements and that Warsh would return to full compliance once he divests those assets, which he has pledged to do within 90 days of confirmation.
That dynamic could prove especially sensitive for Warsh as lawmakers weigh potential conflicts of interest and the steps he would need to take to avoid them.
Beyond that, the filings also underscore the scale of wealth tied to his family.
They do not include the far larger fortune connected to his wife, Jane Lauder — granddaughter of Estée Lauder’s founder — which Forbes estimates at about $1.9 billion. Separate disclosures show Lauder holds millions of dollars in additional assets, further adding to the family’s overall financial footprint.
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Warsh’s potential ascent comes at a turbulent moment for the central bank.
Senators are still weighing ethics concerns tied to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with at least one Republican vowing to block Warsh’s confirmation over the issue.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has been holding up the nomination, said he supports Warsh but will not back his confirmation until a Justice Department investigation into Powell is resolved. But that’s unlikely considering President Donald Trump’s push for the probe and refusal to back off pressuring DOJ to investigate.
On Jan. 11, Powell confirmed that the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into his congressional testimony regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s two historic buildings on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall.
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That probe comes as the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts, including a Supreme Court case testing its independence and persistent cost-of-living concerns weighing on President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.
Against that backdrop, scrutiny of Warsh’s finances — and how he manages them — is likely to intensify as his nomination advances.
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Mexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, according to officials.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the State of Mexico government confirming he was the sole assailant on Monday night.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.
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Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, among them the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Footage circulating in local media appears to show the suspect positioned atop the structure as visitors rushed for safety below, with gunfire echoing across the site.
The Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
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The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine entry screenings no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
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“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a “result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán” and that her “thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”
Later in the evening, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, and said in a post on X that the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Blue state poured thousands of dollars into study on reparations as effort launches
Washington reportedly began a study on “reparative actions” for descendants of slavery on Friday after allocating $300,000 to the effort.
Last year, the Washington State Legislature funded a study to examine the history and impact of slavery in the U.S. as it relates to “the geography of the former Washington and Oregon territories.”
The state also wants to analyze how residents were impacted by state laws and systems regarding criminal justice, economics and education, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce.
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State documents show that the legislature approved $300,000 to fund the project. The Washington State Department of Commerce reserved 10% of the money for administrative costs to manage the program and the remaining funds will be distributed yearly through fiscal year 2026 to 2027, beginning July 1 to the end of June.
The department is open to philanthropic or private donations to “expand the scope and depth of the study.”
Ashley Gardner, the lead director of the project, vowed a thorough review of the historical injustices during an info session last month.
“We intended to leave no research stone unturned,” Gardner said, according to Seattle Times reporting.
The amount of funding provided by the state resulted from consultation with the Commission on African American Affairs. The commission is a representative of the African American community in Washington advising the governor, legislature and state agencies on public policy and its execution.
Researchers must have a Ph.D. qualification in history, African American studies, sociology and several other listed social science and liberal arts degrees with a “direct focus” on “reparations or United States chattel slavery.” The study sought candidates with an “expertise in calculating the present value of uncompensated slave labor for direct victims of the United States chattel slavery.”
The launch of the study came after the state issued a survey to residents to help inform policy recommendations within the study.
“We’re tasked with looking at the national picture, and understanding, is Washington culpable, and if it is culpable, to what degree?” Marvin Slaughter Jr., co-lead of the valuation and policy team, said.
The research team, the Washington Department of Commerce and the Commission on African American Affairs did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Washington follows several other local municipalities and states spanning from coast to coast looking to study the harms of slavery, Jim Crow-era policies, and redlining policies that led to housing discrimination in order to issue reparations in some form. Many others have already conducted a study, which resulted in reports on a detailed review of the past that linked to researchers’ policy recommendations.
A Chicago suburb — Evanston, Illinois — went as far as paying $25,000 in cash to Black residents to address past racial housing discrimination through its program.
As far as what reparations would look like in Washington, researchers reportedly believe it is too early to determine.
“Should it be cash payments? Should it be pensions? Should it be health care?” asked Thomas Craemer, the co-lead of the valuation and policy team on the research project.
“There’s a number of ideas,” he continued. “This is a research project. We’re not actually making any decisions, and we don’t want to. We want to let the community speak to us and to guide us.”
Despite efforts to issue reparations, some of the programs are facing obstacles due to budgetary or legal pressures. The cities of Evanston and San Francisco have been hit with lawsuits over alleged racial discrimination due to their reparations efforts.
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