Keyshawn Johnson isn’t holding back-and when it comes to USC football, he rarely does.
The former USC and NFL wide receiver, who famously helped the Trojans take down Notre Dame during his playing days, made his frustration loud and clear after news broke that the storied USC-Notre Dame rivalry could be on pause until 2030. That’s right-one of college football’s most iconic matchups, a fixture that’s defined fall Saturdays for generations, might be shelved for the better part of a decade.
Johnson didn’t mince words. In a fiery social media response, he called out USC’s athletic department, questioning the leadership and decision-making behind the move.
“I don’t know what the [expletive] is going on with our athletic department,” Johnson said. “We’ve got people in there that are not Trojans, that don’t know anything about being Trojans, running our athletic department.”
That’s not just a former player venting-it's a Trojan legend calling out what he sees as a loss of identity. For Johnson, this isn’t just about scheduling. It’s about tradition, pride, and what it means to wear cardinal and gold.
He wasn’t done.
“Why don’t we just not play football? How about that?
We not going to play Notre Dame again, possibly, until 2030, is what I’m understanding. That doesn’t make any sense… We running from teams now?
We running from Notre Dame? Hell, why don’t we run from Oregon and Michigan and Ohio State and Wisconsin?
Why don’t we just not be in a conference?”
That’s a bold accusation-suggesting the Trojans are ducking competition-but it speaks to a deeper concern. For Johnson and many longtime USC fans, the Notre Dame rivalry isn’t just another game.
It’s the game. Canceling it, even temporarily, feels like turning your back on one of the most defining elements of USC football.
And Johnson didn’t stop at the administration. He also took aim at head coach Lincoln Riley, who’s now three seasons in without a College Football Playoff appearance-despite arriving with sky-high expectations and a Heisman-winning quarterback in Year 1.
“We got a head coach that knows nothing about being a Trojan,” Johnson said. “I’m not one to go in on the USC football coach.
But if I can remember correctly, I had Lincoln Riley talking about, ‘Well, I don’t know if I want to play them in the future.’ You ain’t going to be here in the future.
Especially if you keep missing the playoffs. You not going to be here in the future, I promise you that.”
That’s as direct as it gets.
Johnson’s message is clear: the USC program, from the top down, needs to reconnect with its roots. The Trojans have long prided themselves on taking on all comers-Notre Dame, Big Ten powerhouses, anyone, anywhere.
That’s part of what built the brand. And when that identity starts to feel like it’s slipping, you can bet someone like Keyshawn is going to speak up.
Whether you agree with him or not, Johnson’s words reflect a growing frustration among USC loyalists. The Trojans are heading into a new era-new conference, new challenges, and now, apparently, no Notre Dame for a while. The pressure is on to prove that this is still a program built on tradition, toughness, and taking on the biggest names in the sport.
As Johnson put it, right now, it feels like imposters are running the show.
And for a program with USC’s pedigree, that’s a label they’ll want to shake fast.