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Brisket Aficionados Don’t Accept Lincoln Riley’s Latest Defense Of Dry Meat

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iStockphoto / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Lincoln Riley opens up on viral overcooked brisket.


Lincoln Riley went viral for a slab of overcooked brisket in the spring of 2021. This week, he broke a two-year silence after being ridiculed for his shortcomings on the grill.

He insists the meat wasn’t dry. There was a reason the brisket appeared overdone.

The USC football coach sat down with the Pardon My Take crew to discuss the viral backlash of his Easter dinner post. He refuses to admit poor technique. He has, however, learned a valuable lesson.

Did Lincoln Riley overcook his brisket?

The coach posted a photo of his masterpiece to social media five Aprils back. It went viral for all the wrong reasons. The picture was met with immediate mockery. Lincoln Riley does not know how to cook his meats.

At the time, the coach was still at Oklahoma. A few years later, he would be brutally trolled by a Sooners staff member following an exit to USC.

His deficiencies behind the grill were again called into question in 2023 when he posted a picture of a butchered piece of tuna to the timeline.

In 2024, Riley opened up on the infamous post during a press conference in Los Angeles. He blamed his lacking photography skills, which made the brisket appear grayer than it actually was.

Not many believed him at the time. Now, he’s found a new excuse.

Worcestershire is to blame.

Lincoln Riley explained that he soaked the brisket in a Worcestershire bath before throwing it on the smoker.

“It rips all the pink out of it… the brisket was really, really good.”

While Riley admitted to not being a “brisket aficionado,” he insists the meat was not dry. In fact, it was delicious. Meat connoisseurs aren’t buying it.

“Doubled down and looked even dumber.”

“It wasn’t just the pink. It was the lack of moisture.”

“See, this is just proof that you can’t believe a word that comes out of this man’s mouth. This is indefensible.”

Riley blamed the lighting two years ago. Now, he has a new story. Still, one thing remains – No one believes the words coming out of his mouth.

While he doubled down on the dry meat in an attempt to clear his name, we might not expect to see many more brisket photos in the future. It appears he’s learned his lesson.

In the words of Big Cat, “Never post your meat on the internet.” Words of wisdom we can all live by.