USC Bets on Artificial Intelligence Era as Lincoln Riley Adds Director of AI Role

USC football continues its search to return to national championship contention, a goal that has remained out of reach since its dominant run in the early 2000s. Head coach Lincoln Riley was hired with expectations of restoring the program to elite status, but postseason success has yet to materialize.

Despite high-profile recruiting wins and strong regular-season moments, USC has not reached the College Football Playoff under Riley. That gap between expectation and execution has intensified pressure on the program heading into the next phase of its rebuild.

In response, the Trojans are introducing an unconventional new approach aimed at modernizing competitive preparation through advanced analytics and machine learning systems.

The program is now creating a Director of AI role, signaling a deeper investment in data-driven decision-making as USC attempts to close the gap with college football’s top contenders.

1. New Role Focused on Competitive Edge

According to reporting from On3, USC is promoting Conor McQuiston to serve as the program’s Director of AI, a position designed to integrate artificial intelligence into football operations. McQuiston’s role will involve building AI-based models using internal team data to help identify strategic advantages across multiple areas, including scouting, preparation, and game planning. The goal is to use advanced computational tools to enhance decision-making processes that traditionally rely on film study and human analysis alone. By expanding into AI-driven football operations, USC is attempting to modernize its infrastructure in a way that could influence both short-term game strategy and long-term roster development.

2. McQuiston’s Data and Analytics Background

McQuiston brings a background in sports analytics that spans both professional and collegiate environments. Prior to his promotion, he worked at PrizePicks as an associate data scientist focused on NFL game operations. Before that, he spent multiple years with the NFL, where he worked in research roles tied to Next Gen Stats, contributing to advanced tracking and performance analysis projects. His experience also includes time at the University of Michigan in 2021, where he worked as an undergraduate analytics manager during a season that saw the Wolverines reach the College Football Playoff semifinals. That combination of professional and collegiate experience positioned him as a natural fit for USC’s push into AI-driven football operations.

3. Program Pressure and Championship Expectations

USC’s investment in innovation comes amid continued pressure to return to national prominence. The program has not won a national championship since the early 2000s and has struggled to consistently reach the sport’s top tier in recent seasons. Since the departure of Pete Carroll after the 2009 season, USC has won just one conference championship, highlighting the gap between its historical success and recent performance. Under Lincoln Riley, the Trojans have shown flashes of improvement, including a Pac-12 title game appearance in 2022 and a top-25 finish in 2025, but consistency in major postseason moments has remained elusive. As USC transitions into the Big Ten era, expectations remain high for a playoff push in 2026, with the new Director of AI expected to play a supporting role in that pursuit.