Notre Dame-USC rivalry could be ending, according to recent reports.
USC coach Lincoln Riley addressed the situation Thursday on the “Always College Football” podcast with Greg McElroy, framing it as part of college football’s evolution.
“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 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.”
Riley acknowledged the rivalry’s significance but noted the changing landscape of college football might frustrate newer fans seeking simplicity.
The Trojans’ move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten this season has created scheduling challenges.
“It really doesn’t [concern me],” Riley said. “If you love college football, then are you going to scroll on your TV past USC-Ohio State? No, no, you’re not.”
College football analyst David Pollack expressed stronger concerns on his podcast.
“This is what we continue to lose,” Pollack said. “We continue to lose rivalries. We continue to lose things you grew up watching that you absolutely loved, that you want to see more of, because it doesn’t make sense. How many rivalries have we lost along the way because of that?”
The trend of disappearing rivalries will likely continue as conferences realign.
The teams are scheduled to play October 18 in South Bend, Indiana.
