USC, Notre Dame Set Final Rivalry Game Amid Big Ten Move

The historic USC-Notre Dame college football rivalry, ongoing since 1926, is at risk of ending due to scheduling conflicts following USC's move to the Big Ten, which now requires the Trojans to play nine conference games. USC head coach Lincoln Riley expressed mixed feelings, stating he wants to continue the rivalry but only if it "makes sense," citing the differing conference affiliations as a complicating factor. Notre Dame's coach Marcus Freeman has advocated for maintaining the rivalry, emphasizing its importance to college football tradition. Riley's comments have drawn criticism from fans and insiders who accuse him of double standards and prioritizing USC's playoff ambitions over tradition. The rivalry game is scheduled for October 18, which could be the last meeting under the current arrangement. Riley also linked the rivalry's future to potential changes in the College Football Playoff system, advocating for an automatic qualifier model that might facilitate the continuation of such historic matchups.