The future of some historic college football rivalries hang in the balance amid conference realignment, including the long-running USC-Notre Dame series.
The two perennial powers have met each season since 1924, excluding the COVID year in 2020. The iconic matchup could go by the wayside soon, though, as the current contract between the schools is slated to end after the matchup this fall.
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The development comes one year after USC exited the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.
USC and Notre Dame are reportedly working to find an agreement, but the Trojans have offered just a one-year extension, according to Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.
In an appearance on “Always College Football” with ESPN’s Greg McElroy on Thursday, Trojans’ head coach Lincoln Riley gave his opinion on the controversial changes that continue to mount after conference realignment.
USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley. Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
“It was more of a regional game,” Riley said. “You had regional matchups. I mean, that’s what we all grew up and we loved and were passionate about it. And I think it’s okay to still hang on to some of those. I think we all – even though this is our jobs – there’s still the fan in us, right? There’s still the purists in us that love that part of college football.”
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“What’s changed now is it’s become a more national game,” Riley continued. “These conferences have changed. It’s created matchups that we maybe would have never thought of.”
The silver lining, perhaps, is the new rivalries that could develop. Maybe that will be the case with USC having future opportunities to regularly face Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.
“To think of some of these matchups that it’s created – it’s a new era,” Riley said. “There are some changes that we’ve all just got to accept, because it’s just part of it right now. Obviously that continues to move, and we’ll see how it evolves. But I think any door that closes, well, there’s also a new really exciting door that’s getting opened.”
On the other hand, some college football fans aren’t happy with the direction of the game and the potential devalue of rivalry matchups is a key sticking point.
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Riley is aware of those concerns, but it isn’t something that he is worried about.
“It really doesn’t (concern me),” he said. “If you love college football, then are you going to scroll on your TV past USC-Ohio State? No, no, you’re not.”
Riley, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Trojans, was adamant that college football is in a good place regardless of the concerns over scheduling, transfer portal chaos and NIL dealings.
“Despite all that, we still have one of the greatest products and the greatest sport in the world,” Riley said. Let’s don’t forget that.”
The Trojans will open the season at home against Missouri State on Aug. 30.
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Lincoln Riley Makes Feelings Clear On Iconic Rivalries As College Football Evolves first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
