Lincoln Riley criticizes Notre Dame for the end of their rivalry

USC and Notre Dame Rivalry Faces Uncertain Future

The ongoing controversy surrounding the football rivalry between the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Notre Dame continues to unfold.

Just before USC’s upcoming Valero Alamo Bowl against TCU, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley spoke out about the situation with Notre Dame, expressing frustration as the rivalry appears to be paused for now.

“It’s straightforward. We both spent months exploring options,” Riley stated. He noted that “Notre Dame has shown willingness to play us anytime, anywhere. They aren’t tied to a conference, which gives them more flexibility in scheduling.”

Riley went on to discuss the recent communications between both programs, revealing that about two weeks ago, Athletic Director Jen Cohen brought a proposal to extend their series for two more years—only to have it declined shortly after. “It was pretty quick. Within five minutes of the rejection, they had announced a game with a different opponent. I have to hand it to them; that might just be the quickest scheduling move in college football,” he added.

Confirmed on December 22, the series will cease for now, as discussions to extend it into the 2026-2027 seasons fell through.

While USC is still working out its scheduling for upcoming seasons, Notre Dame has decided to shift gears, opting for a home-and-home series with BYU, the Big 12 runner-up, in 2026 and 2027.

This storied rivalry has seen the two teams clash 96 times since their first matchup back in 1926. Their history includes a few interruptions, notably four games missed during World War II and one in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, USC trails in the all-time series with a record of 36-30-3, having lost to Notre Dame 34-24 earlier this year. Riley expressed disappointment about the way things turned out, saying, “I took Notre Dame at their word when they claimed they would compete with us anytime, anywhere. If they had followed through, we could have scheduled games for the next couple of years and potentially more beyond that.”