Southern California coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame for why the historic rivalry between the two teams has paused, adding the Fighting Irish didn’t keep to their word.
USC and Notre Dame announced on Dec. 22 their rivalry would not continue after they couldn’t come to terms on the future of the series that has been played 96 times since 1926. A week after the news, Riley was asked at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 29 ahead of the Alamo Bowl about what led to the halt of the rivalry game, and he pointed to Notre Dame as the reason.
Riley said both sides worked for months to continue the series and recently, USC athletics director Jen Cohen offered a proposal that would extend the game for two more years and Notre Dame rejected it.
‘We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,’ Riley said.
The Trojans coach added five minutes after the offer was rejected, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series with Brigham Young that effectively ended any chance of the rivalry continuing. He said ‘that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.’
The main blocking point in the future of the game centered on the scheduling. Traditionally, it took place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years, and in even years, occurred in Los Angeles in November. The recent deal for the series ended with the 2025 game. The belief was USC wanted the game to be played earlier in the schedule to avoid it being in the middle of conference play.
‘Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing in the next two years, and looking ahead after that and hopefully, continuing the series,’ Riley said. ‘They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.’
Riley has stated several times he has great respect for Notre Dame and the rivalry and wanted to keep it going. Since Riley took over at USC in 2022, Notre Dame has won three of the four meetings, including three consecutive victories. He said he’s hopeful something can be worked out in the future and ‘we at SC would love for the game to continue, and we have no problem following through on our promises in the future.’
After it was announced the rivalry would be paused, both schools said in a joint statement they ‘look forward to meeting again in the future.’
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51–37–5.
