Lincoln Riley was Bob Stoops' handpicked successor at Oklahoma, but the Sooners coaching legend isn't too concerned about his protege's departure.

"Lincoln Riley didn't invent OU football," Stoops said Tuesday when being honored by the Oklahoma Legislature.

Riley served as Stoops' offensive coordinator for two seasons before being hired as head coach in 2017. He went 55-10 over his five seasons helming the Sooners, reaching the College Football Playoff three times. When Riley left for USC in November, he departed with the highest winning percentage for a coach in Oklahoma history.

Stoops took over for Oklahoma's Alamo Bowl victory over Oregon, saying he wanted to send a message that the program would remain a national power.