USC Coach Lincoln Riley Blames Notre Dame for Ending 96-Year Rivalry Due to Scheduling Dispute
The long-standing rivalry between USC and Notre Dame has come to an end following failed negotiations for a game extension in the 2026-27 season. Notre Dame rejected USC's proposal for a two-year extension, leading to the dissolution of this storied series.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley placed the blame on Notre Dame, criticizing the program for not living up to their claim of being willing to play "anytime, anywhere." He pointed out that Notre Dame, not being affiliated with a conference, should have had more flexibility in scheduling. Riley also expressed disappointment after Notre Dame quickly announced a home-and-home series with BYU to replace USC for the 2026-27 matchups.
The USC-Notre Dame football series began in 1926 and included 96 meetings until now. The series was interrupted only during World War II (1943-45) and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, Notre Dame holds the advantage with an all-time record of 51-37-5 over USC.
Riley's comments were made ahead of USC's upcoming Valero Alamo Bowl game against TCU, further highlighting tensions following the scheduling fallout between the two programs.
