USC's Lincoln Riley blames Notre Dame for failure to renew storied series

USC coach Lincoln Riley wasted no time putting responsibility for the pause in one of college football’s most storied rivalries squarely on another school. 

During Monday's Alamo Bowl press conference in San Antonio, Riley said Notre Dame quickly rejected a proposal to continue the series in 2026 and 2027, despite months of discussions between the two schools.

“We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime and anywhere,” Riley said. “That proposal was rejected. Not only was it rejected, five minutes after we got the call, it was announced that they had scheduled another opponent. That might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.”

The USC-Notre Dame rivalry began in 1926 and has been played 96 times. Aside from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the teams have met annually since 1946. USC has traditionally hosted the game at the end of the regular season, while Notre Dame hosted in mid-to-late October.

Notre Dame filled its remaining scheduling openings for 2026 and 2027 on Dec. 22 by announcing a home-and-home series with BYU, the Big 12 runner-up this season. In a joint statement, Notre Dame and USC Trojans said they will “continue working toward bringing back” the rivalry, though a return is unlikely before 2030.

Riley, who has lost three straight games to Notre Dame after winning his debut matchup with the Irish, said he respects the rivalry but acknowledged the challenges USC faces as a member of the Big Ten. Notre Dame’s independence, he said, gives the Irish more scheduling flexibility.

USC athletic director Jen Cohen previously noted the Trojans are the only Big Ten team to play a nonconference game after Week 4 in each of the past two seasons, arguing such scheduling makes a path to the College Football Playoff more difficult.

Riley said he remains hopeful the rivalry will resume.

“We at USC would love for the game to continue,” he said. “We have no problem following through on our promises in the future.”

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