Despite CFP concerns, Lincoln Riley wants USC-Notre Dame to 'play this game forever'
The two college football powerhouses have met 95 times since 1926, nearly playing each other every season. But the non-conference rivalry's future is in jeopardy, with the teams only scheduled to play in South Bend in 2025 and Los Angeles in 2026.
According to a Sports Illustrated report in May, USC is reluctant to keep the rivalry going on a long-term deal because of uncertainty with the future College Football Playoff format, while also considering the Trojans' move to the Big Ten. The game has typically been played in October when at Notre Dame and November in Los Angeles, and the outlet added USC has pondered moving the game to the early season.
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"I think depending on what happens here from a playoff perspective, and then do we expand?" Riley said at Big Ten media days on July 24. "What model do we go to, that's certainly going to have an impact, not only in the rivalry, but what time of year potentially that you would play it."
It's been a frustrating situation for fans of both sides and college football purists, and Riley said at Big Ten media days he's been asked about the situation plenty in recent months. He wants the game to continue, but it can't be the top priority for the Trojans.
"Do I want to play the game? Hell yeah, I want to play the game. Absolutely. It's one of the reasons I came here," Riley said. "But also my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame, and it's not to anybody else. I'm the head football coach at USC, and I'm going to back USC, and I'm going to do everything possible that I can in my power to make USC as good as it can, and not going to let anything stand in between that.
"I'm very hopeful we can get to a point where, where it makes sense. It's one of those situations right now where the two schools are in radically different situations. I think we can all agree with that, with the one having a conference affiliation and one not," he added.
Riley then alluded to the proposals for the expanded College Football Playoff. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has advocated for automatic qualifiers − with four each for the Big Ten and SEC − with play-in games during conference championship week. It appears the future of the rivalry hinges on the format as USC is still seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance.
Riley wants that plan adopted so it can preserve non-conference matchups "that mean a lot to the history of the game."
"I'm very hopeful that we can get there, and I'm very hopeful that we play this game forever," Riley said.
There was no mention of where talks are in extending the contract between the two teams. The Trojans will visit the Fighting Irish on Oct. 18 in what could be the final meeting in South Bend.
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