Matt Leinart has never been shy about backing the USC Trojans - and why would he be? He’s one of the most decorated players in program history, with a Heisman Trophy and a BCS National Championship under his belt. But his recent comments defending USC in the wake of the rivalry pause with Notre Dame raised some eyebrows, and not necessarily for the right reasons.
The Trojans and the Fighting Irish are hitting pause on one of college football’s most storied rivalries, and Leinart took to social media to defend his alma mater. His main argument?
USC has produced more Heisman winners than any other program in the country. That’s a fact, and it’s a point of pride for the Trojans.
But in the context of the rivalry ending - at least temporarily - it doesn’t exactly address the bigger picture.
One fan pushed back with a sharp analogy, comparing Leinart’s logic to the Dallas Cowboys. Sure, the Cowboys have five Super Bowl titles, but their last one came in 1995.
Since then, the results - and the decision-making - have been far from championship-caliber. The point?
Past glory doesn’t always translate to present-day success or sound judgment. And that’s a fair criticism when applied to USC as well, which hasn’t won a national title since Leinart’s own team in 2004.
This isn’t just a USC decision, though. Both schools played a role in the rivalry’s pause.
Neither side was able to make it work logistically, and while there’s disappointment on both ends, it’s not accurate to pin the blame squarely on one program. There’s no evidence that USC is ducking Notre Dame or vice versa - despite the chatter.
Leinart did, however, get one thing right: this is a loss for college football fans. Rivalries like USC-Notre Dame are about more than just wins and losses.
They’re a part of the sport’s DNA - annual matchups that cut through conference lines and connect generations of fans. When one of those rivalries goes on hiatus, it leaves a void.
But this isn’t goodbye forever. There’s already talk of the series potentially resuming in 2030, much like we saw with Texas and Texas A&M, whose rivalry returned after a decade-long break.
These things ebb and flow with scheduling changes, realignment, and evolving priorities. And while it’s a bummer now, there’s still hope that USC and Notre Dame will find their way back to each other.
For now, the Trojans and Irish will go their separate ways. Leinart’s loyalty to USC is expected - and honestly, commendable - but invoking Heisman history doesn’t really move the needle in this debate.
The legacy is secure. The future?
That’s still being written.