Former Heisman winner Baker Mayfield is in a Browns uniform, and Lincoln Riley is one of the hottest names on the market an almost two years into his head coaching career, so it was only a matter of time Riley's name was brought up in connection with the Brown's new head coaching opening after they announced their intention to move on from the Hue Jackson era.
That time ran out today, almost as soon as Riley opened his weekly press conference, and it was no surprise to him.
"Knew that was coming, but no. Not right now. To sit here and answer these questions, I always want to be truthful."
"The truth is, for me, I love Oklahoma. I love coaching here. I love coaching college football. I certainly don't have that itch right now."
"I don't know that I ever will, but I'm never going to be a guy that stands up here and say 'No way, no how will any of these things ever happen. I don't know that, but I know right now that I could care less about the NFL, we're trying to win this game and make a run that we all think we hav ein us right now."
While no head coach is going to come out midseason and talk about how another job, even one at the NFL with his former quarterback, has his interest, Riley is just getting started in Norman, and things are going really, really well. The Sooners went 12-2 and lost in the Rose Bowl of the College Football Playoff last year, and he has the Sooners sitting at 7-1 right now with games against Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia to wrap up the year with another Playoff bid not out of the question if they're able to finish the year strong.
Riley isn't the only "college" guy we're hearing mentioned for the Browns vacancy. Other coaches include his predecessor, Bob Stoops, and Iowa State's Matt Campbell as well.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.