Lincoln Riley didn’t exactly sound eager to talk Notre Dame-USC on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days, and that alone said plenty.
The USC coach was asked again whether there was any movement toward bringing back the rivalry, and his reaction made clear it was not a topic he welcomed. He visibly winced when the question came up and, at minimum, seemed irritated by having to revisit it.
Riley’s actual update was brief and pointed back to what he had already said earlier in the winter.
“I don't think anything more than to say I would just reference my comments earlier in the winter,” Riley replied about any updates to getting the rivalry back up. “I think I gave everybody a pretty clear indication of how those have went. Nothing's changed from my vantage point.”
He then shifted into a more pointed message, one that again put the burden on Notre Dame without naming the Irish directly.
“We want to play the game. I want to play the game. We would be playing the game had some things come true that were said.”
“Hopefully we get to that point. Obviously we want it to happen.
I know our fan base wants it to happen. College football wants it to happen.
Hopefully I'm up here next year talking about that game here on the future schedule. We'll keep making progress and let you know if we have any more updates.”
That “some things come true that were said” line sure sounded like a shot across Notre Dame’s bow, even if Riley stopped short of spelling it out. The tone mattered as much as the words. He did not sound like a coach eager to push the conversation forward, and he certainly didn’t sound like someone with fresh optimism.
The bigger takeaway is that the rivalry’s future still looks murky. If there was any hope that earlier spring chatter had built real momentum, Riley’s comments Tuesday suggested otherwise.
In Other News...
Luke Fickells Blunt Notre Dame Admission Says Plenty About This Opener
The 2026 opener against Wisconsin is already carrying the kind of early-season weight Notre Dame fans tend to notice, and Luke Fickells comments only added to that sense of occasion. The Badgers coach called it a major opportunity and made clear he understands the challenge ahead, especially with Notre Dame coming off a stronger recent run and Wisconsin still trying to get itself back to the level it expects.
Fickell also pointed to the broader value of the matchup as his program gets ready for the season, saying games like this sharpen the focus around what still needs to improve. For Notre Dame, that matters because these are the kinds of openers that can reveal a lot before the calendar really gets moving, and this one already has the feel of a measuring-stick game with plenty of eyes on it. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Ahneman Already Looks Like A Different Notre Dame Big
Tommy Ahneman is back in the mix for Notre Dame after spending last season on the sideline, and the sophomore power forward already looks like a different kind of big man in practice. The rehab has been a long one, but his return to summer work gives the Irish another interior piece to evaluate as they sort through a roster that has changed a lot since spring.
Ahneman has talked about how hard it was to be away from the team while he was hurt, and how much it meant to get back into pickup sessions and day-to-day basketball again. For Notre Dame, that matters beyond just the depth chart, because the Irish are still piecing together what their frontcourt will look like and how Ahneman fits into it as he heads toward a season he has been waiting a long time to play. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Title Hopes May Hinge On One Offensive Room
Notre Dames push to end its national title drought is being shaped by more than just the usual headline names, with the offenses key position groups carrying different levels of importance as the season approaches. The running backs, tight ends, wideouts and quarterback all factor into the equation, but the analysis makes clear that one room in particular could end up driving how far this team goes.
The passing game still feels like the swing piece, especially with the wide receivers needing to deliver when the moment gets biggest. There is also real intrigue around the quarterback spot, where the Irish have a proven presence back under center for the first time in years and plenty of expectation attached to him, even if the rest of the offense has to hold up its end for Notre Dame to finally break through. [Read more 🡒]