SAN ANTONIO — Notre Dame is responsible for the pause in the nearly 100-year rivalry with USC, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley emphatically stated Monday.

Riley assigned blame during a joint news conference with TCU coach Sonny Dykes as the teams prepare for Tuesday’s Alamo Bowl. It was the first time Riley had a chance to speak about the discontinuation of the series, and the Trojans coach had a lot to say.

“We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,” Riley said. “That proposal was rejected. Not only was it rejected, but five minutes after we got the call, it was announced they scheduled another opponent, which — I’ll give them credit — that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.”

In place of USC, Notre Dame announced Dec. 21 that it will play a home-and-home series with BYU in 2026 and 2027.

Regarded as one of the fiercest rivalries in college football history, the Trojans and Irish have played 96 times since first meeting in 1926. The teams have met every year since with the exception of a pause from 1943 to 1945 during World War II and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic when the Pac-12 canceled all nonconference games.

Notre Dame leads the series 51–37–5, including victories in eight of the last 10 matchups.

Riley said he was eager to join the historic rivalry when he took over at USC on Nov. 28, 2021, after five seasons as Oklahoma’s coach.

“I have a deep respect for college football, been a part of some really great rivalries,” Riley said. “Obviously this is right there up at the top.”

So being one of the only coaches in a century of USC football not to face Notre Dame during the regular season does not sit well with Riley.

“We’re hopeful something can be worked out in the future,” Riley said. “That would be fantastic. We at SC would love for the game to continue. We have no problem following through on our promises in the future.”

The rivalry traditionally was contested around Thanksgiving but always in the final months of the season. This year’s game was played Oct. 18 with the Irish winning 34-24.

The selection process for the 12-team College Football Playoff is causing teams to reconsider whom they play in nonconference games, especially late in the season.

Notre Dame failed to make the playoffs this season despite going 10-2. The Irish opted not to participate in a bowl game after the CFP committee announced the playoff field.

“I know college football has changed a lot, but the fact is very, very clear, this can all be settled very quickly,” Riley said. “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, hopefully continuing the series. They did not follow through on it, thus we are not playing them the next couple years.”

Notre Dame and USC said in a joint statement Dec. 22 that “our institutions will continue working toward bringing back The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh,” and that they “look forward to meeting again in the future.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/29/usc-notre-dame-lincoln-riley/