re: I just don’t get the hype around Riley.

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Exactly what has kept him from having a good defensive coordinator at Oklahoma?

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When he took over at OU he inherited Mike Stoops as his DC and was basically stuck with him until he retired. Then he hired Grinch who tremendously helped improve their defense. So he has shown he knows how to hire a DC.

No one can explain it. He's won conference titles by beating average teams in a weak conference. He's only beaten one really good team in his career (Ohio State, with his best team and a Heisman winner at quarterback).

He's lost every single playoff game because the teams are very good. You know, like the type of teams he would play in the SEC.

"But if he was at LSU...blah, blah, blah". People just have sort of creepy man crush on him. Maybe they're just blinded by love or lust

Why can't you get defensive talent at Oklahoma? They get offensive talent galore. Shouldn't be different for defense

Enlighten me. Is it the packet of Miracle Spring Water they give him the first day on the job?

Your gripes about Riley:

1) he doesn't have a good defense.
I already told you he inherited a DC and then when he had the opportunity to hire one he made a good hire and their defense has been improving.

2) why can't he get defensive talent at OU.
At LSU he would have our in state recruits and not nearly as much competition for them like he does now. Also Louisiana puts out great defensive talent so he would have a better talent pool and an easier time recruiting from it.

3) he can't win against SEC teams.
See reason 2. That will help fix that issue.

Additional benefits of Riley:
1) Can coach Heisman QBs a spot LSU has been particularly bad at over the past decade or so.

2) if clm and O can win a title here. Putting in someone like Riley who is an offensive specialist and good recruiter would be amazing. Definitely increases our chances of winning it all.

Can he still play Kansas, Texas Tech, TCU, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, etc. every year in conference games? That might help.

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OU dominates the Big 12 and then get massacred every year when they play someone good.

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This narrative is kind of lazy. You might as well say you don't respect the Big 12 and don't want a coach from that league. Of course, that pretty much rules out the most likely candidates.

In 2019 they beat Matt Rhule's 11 win Baylor team twice.

In 2020, they beat fiesta bowl winner top 10 Iowa state in the big 12 championship game and then skull fricked 6th ranked Florida in the Cotton bowl.

In 2017 they beat top 10 TCU twice and a very good Oklahoma state team that finished ranked 14 and then lost to Georgia in overtime in the Rose bowl.

Against LSU and Alabama in the playoffs, they were 2 touchdown underdogs and they covered the spread against Alabama.

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I think him being at lsu will help the defensive problem but will the overall attitude of the team still be soft

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That's a good question. I think that could definitely be a problem. I wonder if he would ever change his philosophy on that. I feel like most coaches have a tough time doing that though.

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Sorry, but it sounds like people are expecting LSU to make Riley, rather than Riley making LSU better .

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They can't make each other better? It doesn't have to be either or you know.

You can quibble a little on the wording, but OP is mostly right.

So now the argument for Riley is "He's only 38 and has a better winning percentage than either Saban or Dabo at that age?

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He’s 38. Saban was 48 when he took over at LSU and he’s gotten even better at Alabama. Just like players, coaches get better with more experience. I’d be willing to bet he has the best win percentage for a coach in his 30’s all time. It took Dabo 8 years to win his first natty

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I disagree. Timing is everything. You're going to drive a little faster than your peers if some rich guy decides to throw you the keys to his Farrari while most of your friends are forced to build their own cars from parts. No doubt Riley was a great coordinator but he also lucked into inheriting a loaded Oklahoma team from Stoops at such a young age. It doesn't mean he won't do just as well, but it doesn't prove that he will either.

How many other coaches could have kept the momentum at OK rolling though a crappy Big 12 conference?

And as far as Heisman's go, shootout games with crappy defenses make for great Heisman statistics. It's not uncommon to have a choice between what's best for the Heisman player and what's best for the team. Regardless, Heisman winners don't coorelate with NC winning teams as much as you would think. If I'm looking for qualities in a coach to win me championships, Heisman winners is not very high on the list.