There has been a huge change in the Big Ten this week as UCLA parted ways with head coach DeShaun Foster, which may actually impact Michigan State football's Week 4 opponent, USC.
How does a change at UCLA affect USC?
Well, USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn was previously with the Bruins, and there's talk that he could be a legitimate candidate to replace Foster at UCLA.
The job Lynn did at USC a year ago was impressive enough to at least put him on UCLA's radar again, and if they go the route of a younger coach again, he might be the guy for the job. Lynn, however, said that he hasn't been contacted about the UCLA job, and claims that his mind is on MSU.
D’Anton Lynn says he has not been contacted by UCLA about its open head coaching job.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 18, 2025
“My mind is just on Michigan State. We’ve got a lot of stuff on defense that we’ve got to clean up and improve on. So that’s where all my focus is.” pic.twitter.com/C3kjIGnkd8
While this is exactly how a coach is supposed to answer questions about a coaching vacancy in the middle of the season, it does show that this is something on USC's radar. Lynn would make a lot of sense as UCLA's next head coach because he just coached there two years ago, and he's become one of the fastest-risers in the coaching ranks.
Lynn went from a secondary coach in the NFL to a defensive coordinator at UCLA before taking the same job at USC under Lincoln Riley in 2024. The move to head coach would be the next step.
Some UCLA fans are still salty about him leaving for the Bruins' top rival, though.
But, hey, the more distractions for USC heading into Saturday's game, the better -- for MSU. He didn't say he wasn't interested in the job, so the door is cracked a bit, which could affect his guys.