Lincoln Riley Reaffirms Commitment to Preserving USC–Notre Dame Rivalry Amid College Football’s Uncertain and Rapidly Changing Landscape
With the future of the USC–Notre Dame football rivalry uncertain, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley on Thursday expressed his desire to retain the matchup, emphasizing both its historic significance and enduring relevance in a sport that’s shifting rapidly due to realignment and playoff expansion. In doing so, Riley became one of the most prominent voices to advocate publicly for the preservation of one of college football’s most cherished traditions—at a time when rivalries everywhere are falling victim to scheduling conflicts and strategic re-evaluations.
Riley’s comments come at a critical juncture for the sport. Conference realignment has already redrawn the map of college football. Longstanding powerhouses have traded conference homes, regional allegiances have been disrupted, and the very fabric of what once defined a season is being rewritten in real-time. USC’s move to the Big Ten, which will take full effect in the 2024 season, represents one of the most consequential shifts of this era, altering the dynamics of both coasts and forcing administrators, coaches, and players to rethink their place in the new ecosystem.
Amid that upheaval, the fate of non-conference rivalries like USC–Notre Dame has become increasingly uncertain. With the Big Ten’s new 18-team structure, conference schedules will be grueling and packed with high-profile matchups. USC will regularly face the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Washington—all programs with playoff aspirations. Combine that with the annual rivalry game against UCLA and the addition of a 12-team College Football Playoff, and the incentive to preserve an additional marquee non-conference game becomes much more complicated.
Yet Lincoln Riley made it clear that the USC–Notre Dame game is not just another entry on the schedule. “This game means a lot—to our players, our fans, to college football,” Riley said during his media availability. “It’s one of those games you grow up watching, even if you’re not on the West Coast or in South Bend. There’s history, there’s respect, and there’s always something on the line. We want to keep that.”
His remarks weren’t made in a vacuum. Recent scheduling negotiations between USC and Notre Dame have reportedly become more complex as both schools navigate their respective pressures. Notre Dame, still an independent in football, continues to prioritize national scheduling while balancing its annual commitments with Navy and Stanford. For years, the Irish have used the USC rivalry as a foundational piece of their brand—a testament to their national reach and tradition. But as playoff considerations start to dominate scheduling philosophy, even the most historic games are being re-evaluated through a strategic lens.
From Notre Dame’s side, there’s a dual-edged sword in continuing to face USC annually. On one hand, the rivalry boosts their strength of schedule and national profile. On the other, consistently playing a team like USC—especially one embedded in the powerhouse Big Ten—adds significant risk to a playoff bid in a world where one or two losses can still jeopardize a team’s seed or qualification entirely. Without a conference championship to bolster their resume, Notre Dame walks a narrow tightrope every year, and that makes every scheduling decision consequential.
But Riley’s comments indicate a recognition that some things transcend playoff seeding and postseason strategy. The USC–Notre Dame rivalry, which dates back to 1926, is more than a game. It’s a tradition that has mirrored the evolution of the sport itself. Legends have emerged from this rivalry—Heisman winners, Hall of Famers, and coaches who left indelible marks on the sport. Iconic games, from the “Bush Push” to Lou Holtz’s showdowns with John Robinson, have not only defined seasons but etched themselves into college football lore.
Riley, a student of the game as much as a tactician, understands the cultural value of that history. “We talk to our guys every year about what this game means. The names that have played in it, the moments that have come out of it—it’s special. You don’t just replace that with another opponent,” he said.
That understanding may be one of the reasons Riley has embraced the challenge of preserving the rivalry even in the face of an increasingly demanding schedule. The transition to the Big Ten will require adaptation, but Riley seems to believe that enduring rivalries are worth the logistical headaches and potential competitive drawbacks. His view reflects a broader sentiment among purists and longtime fans of the sport who fear that in chasing television revenue and playoff positioning, college football risks losing its soul.
The rivalry also holds immense recruiting value. For programs like USC and Notre Dame, which battle not only on the field but also in living rooms across the country, the annual clash serves as a recruiting pitch. Recruits want to play in games that matter—games that are watched, discussed, and remembered. The Notre Dame–USC game is all of that and more. It’s a national spotlight, a measuring stick, and often a pathway to the postseason. To lose it would be to lose one of the game’s last remaining national showcases that bridges time zones, conferences, and cultures.
From the fan perspective, the potential disappearance or dilution of the rivalry would represent a deep loss. Rivalry games are more than just circled dates on a calendar—they are emotional anchors in a season full of unpredictability. They bring families together, divide households, and create memories that span lifetimes. For generations of fans, the third Saturday in October—or occasionally the final weekend of November—has been synonymous with the cardinal and gold lining up against the blue and gold.
In many ways, Lincoln Riley’s comments serve as a rallying cry for a college football community that increasingly feels alienated by the sport’s direction. His willingness to publicly state his desire to maintain the rivalry sends a message that some coaches, at least, still believe in preserving the soul of college football even as the structure around it continues to evolve.
Of course, Riley’s wishes can only go so far. Athletic directors, conference commissioners, and television executives ultimately determine the long-term scheduling framework. But having a head coach of Riley’s stature support the rivalry adds pressure and visibility to the conversation. It also aligns him with a broader movement of voices calling for intentional preservation of rivalries amid expansion.
Notre Dame has not issued any official statement suggesting that the rivalry with USC is in imminent danger, but both sides acknowledge the increased complexity. Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame’s outgoing athletic director, has previously indicated the program’s desire to continue the series, but also emphasized the need for flexibility in the playoff era. It’s a delicate balance—honoring tradition while optimizing postseason opportunities.
As college football accelerates toward an uncertain future, the preservation of historic rivalries like USC–Notre Dame will require more than nostalgia—it will require action, coordination, and sometimes sacrifice. Riley’s comments suggest he’s willing to bear some of that burden. His vision of USC’s future includes more than just playoff berths and Big Ten championships—it includes keeping alive the battles that helped define the program.
And maybe, in that vision, there’s hope. Hope that the next wave of realignment doesn’t wash away the rivalries that made college football more than just a game. Hope that coaches, players, and administrators recognize that tradition has a value that can’t be measured in dollars or playoff percentages. Hope that when future generations tune in on fall Saturdays, they’ll still see the Trojans and the Irish, lining up across from one another, renewing a rivalry that has endured nearly a century.
Riley concluded his remarks with a simple but resonant thought: “We want this game. Every year. No matter where college football goes, it should always include USC and Notre Dame.”
That may not be a contractual guarantee—but in a shifting sport, it’s exactly the kind of commitment college football needs to hear.
