Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsWednesday, August 5, 2026

Pat Haden on Lane Kiffin’s USC program: ‘The sky is not falling’

USC’s most publicized programs are faltering, but athletic director Pat Haden isn’t worried.

Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE

There are many starting to doubt head coach Lane Kiffin at USC following a disappointing 7-6 season in 2012, but his boss isn’t one of them. Pat Haden confirmed his support for Kiffin in an in-depth interview with the Los Angeles Times this week. Haden recently fired a coach of another high-profile program, letting Kevin O’Niell go midway though the college basketball season.

The athletic director doesn’t appear to have the same fate in the plans any time soon for Kiffin, despite a season that finished well below expectations and was full of media blunders from the coach and players. Haden believes some of the worrying around the Trojan football program is premature:

“The sky is not falling, in spite of what some people read and think and write.”

USC is still a recruiting juggernaut, but some of the uncertainty around Kiffin and the program has led to some prospects rethinking their commitments. The Trojans still aren’t suffering talent-wise, as they continue to pull in many of the nation’s top incoming freshman. However, the scholarship limitations they’ve had to deal with stemming from NCAA sanctions may hurt Kiffin’s ability to build the depth to get USC back to the top of college football.

College Football
North Dakota State’s college football dynasty finally reaches the big leaguesNorth Dakota State’s college football dynasty finally reaches the big leagues
College Football

North Dakota State dominated FCS college football. Can it work in the Mountain West?

By Mark Schofield
College Football
Heisman Trophy rankings: Predicting college football’s top contenders for 2026Heisman Trophy rankings: Predicting college football’s top contenders for 2026
College Football

College football’s long list of Heisman Trophy candidates entering 2026 season

By Mark Schofield
College Football
College Football Reacts: Are patch deals ok for the game?College Football Reacts: Are patch deals ok for the game?
College Football

Let us know how you feel about the takeover of patch deals in college football

By Kyle Thele
College Football
College football rankings: Preseason top-25 teams, according to usCollege football rankings: Preseason top-25 teams, according to us
College Football

Here’s our top-25 teams in college football.

By Mark Schofield
NFL Draft beat
How NFL-ready is Arch Manning?How NFL-ready is Arch Manning?
NFL Draft beat

Arch Manning is the presumptive QB1 in the 2027 draft class that’s supposed to be generational. What does he need to improve in order to make that a reality?

By Doug Farrar
College Football
College Football 27 review: The greatest meal that leaves a bad taste in your mouthCollege Football 27 review: The greatest meal that leaves a bad taste in your mouth
College Football

Brilliant in so many ways, flawed in one key area.

By James Dator