For Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, continuing the annual football series against USC is “pretty black-and-white.” He wants to play it every year.
But for Lincoln Riley, it’s not that easy. He was asked about the rivalry series on Thursday at Big Ten media days, and he said playing the Fighting Irish was one of the reasons he took the Trojan’s job. But his stance is seemingly dependent on the future of the College Football Playoff and whether it expands.
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With expansion remaining a possibility for 2026, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti wants a 16-team model that awards four automatic bids to both the Big Ten and the SEC. Petitti and Riley feel that this proposed format would make programs in both leagues play more challenging non-conference games.
In the current 12-team format, the theory is that a potential Trojans loss to ND would do more harm to the Trojans’ resume than a win would help it, as ‘SC is playing a nine-game Big Ten schedule.
That’s the thought process coming out of L.A. What are your thoughts?
The Irish and Trojans have played 95 times since 1926, facing off every season but three (during World War II as well as the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020). The series has not been extended beyond 2026, with the USC administration remaining noncommittal.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: USC’s Lincoln Riley wants to preserve Notre Dame rivalry with a caveat
