Five years after his Easter brisket photo became an internet punchline, USC football coach Lincoln Riley is finally setting the record straight. The image, posted in April 2021, showed a dark, dry-looking slab of meat that drew comparisons to burnt offerings, Kansas football, and even his own defensive schemes. Now, in a candid interview on Pardon My Take, Riley has revealed the culinary twist behind the controversy.
“It’s actually one of my favorite stories,” Riley said with a laugh. “I’m not a great cook, but I think I’m a decent cook. We had a couple of our coaches over and my buddy has been telling me about doing this brisket in a Worcestershire bath. I love Worcestershire on anything.”
The secret, according to Riley, was that the Worcestershire sauce stripped the meat of its pink smoke ring, leaving it looking charred even though it was perfectly tender. “I wasn’t thinking of anything of it because the brisket was really, really good. I’m not a brisket aficionado, so I don’t have the pink on it because of the Worcestershire bath. That’s how the whole thing came about.”
The original photo, captioned “Happy Easter,” went viral for all the wrong reasons. Critics on social media didn’t hold back. “Glad that Lincoln has finally found something he can burn more than West Virginia’s defense,” one user joked. Another quipped, “An Easter reminder that burnt offerings are no longer necessary.” The harshest comparison came from a fan who wrote, “If this brisket was a Big 12 football program it would be Kansas. But even Kansas football isn’t as bad as this.”
Riley has since moved on from that Easter dinner, but the brisket meme has followed him to USC, where he took over in 2022. Now, as he prepares for the 2026 season, Riley is more focused on what his Trojans can do on the field. “You got to go win the games. We have the people to do it,” he said. “We have more reasons why we should and could do it versus why maybe we can’t.”
USC opens its 2026 campaign on Aug. 29 against San Jose State. While fans hope the offense will be more impressive than Riley’s brisket, the coach’s willingness to finally explain the infamous photo has earned him a bit of redemption. In a world where college football fans are quick to roast anything, Riley’s Worcestershire confession might just be the most honest thing a coach has said all year.
The brisket debacle also highlights the intense scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile coach. College sports programs are under constant watch, and even a simple cooking photo can spark a firestorm. But for Riley, it’s all part of the job. “I love Worcestershire on anything,” he said, sticking to his story.
As USC gears up for what could be a playoff run, Riley’s brisket tale serves as a reminder that even coaches can have off days in the kitchen. The Trojans have the talent to contend, and if they can match that with execution, the brisket photo might finally be forgotten. Or, at least, it will be a funny footnote in a season of success.
