Fourth down for rivalry with the Fighting Irish

With Netflix idea nixed, storied series isn’t under contract after Saturday’s game.

- By Ryan KarRTJE

LINCOLN RILEY has the Trojans on the rise heading into South Bend.

CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times

Things are suddenly looking pretty sunny for USC after a statement-making 313 win over Michigan on Saturday night. This was precisely the sort of victory that has eluded Lincoln Riley over the previous three seasons. And now, at 54, USC heads to South Bend this week with areal chance to crash the College Football Playoff conversation for the first time since late 2022.

USC hasn't won at Notre Dame since 201, and its only trip under Riley, in 2023, was a total disaster. The stakes next Saturday in South Bend will be sky high for both teams... and not just because of the looming implications of the College Football Playoff.

There's also the small matter of whether this historic rivalry will continue on at all past 2025.

Make no mistake, no matter what narratives have been spun during negotiations, both USC and Notre Dame want the annual game to continue. (Yes, even Lincoln Riley.) But right now, there is currently no contract for the two schools to continue their rivalry past this coming Saturday.