Riley Suggests Notre Dame Reneged on USC Game Commitment for 2026 Season

The scheduled rivalry between USC and Notre Dame will not happen in 2026 after contract negotiations between the schools deteriorated, leaving behind questions about whether one side abandoned its stated position. During Big Ten media week, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley suggested the Irish had not fulfilled commitments made during discussions, saying the game would be happening “had some things come true that were said.”

The USC-Notre Dame matchup, played 96 times over a century with interruptions only for World War II and COVID-19 lockdowns, represents one of college football’s premier intersectional rivalries. The two programs have traditionally squared off late in the season, but Riley sought to move the 2026 game to Week 0 to accommodate USC’s conference schedule demands. Riley stated his desire to play the contest remains unchanged and reiterated his frustration at the impasse.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had declared in 2025 that he would play USC “anytime, anywhere,” stating the week of the season held no significance to him. Freeman said he preferred annual matchups and would accommodate any scheduling request, claiming the game’s importance to college football superseded logistical concerns. His public statements suggested scheduling flexibility on the Irish side.

However, Freeman subsequently reversed course without detailed explanation, asserting that moving the game from its traditional Week 12 slot to Week 0 would not serve Notre Dame’s interests. He cited competitive considerations but declined to specify why the timing mattered given his previous statements indicating indifference to the scheduling date. Riley’s recent comments suggest the coach views Freeman’s reversal as contradicting earlier public commitments.