Lincoln Riley hopeful USC-Notre Dame sport continues after '26 – ABC7 Los Angeles

LAS VEGAS — With the way forward for the USC–Notre Damesoccer rivalry unsure, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley on Thursday expressed his want to retain the sport — below the fitting circumstances.
"Do I wanna play the sport? Hell yeah, I wish to play the sport," Riley stated at Large Ten media days. "That's one of many causes I got here. But in addition, my allegiance is to USC, and I'm going to do every thing in my energy to assist USC."
The matchup is at the moment scheduled solely by way of 2026, and Riley stated that whereas it's essential to him, the variations between the 2 packages — be it convention affiliation or the place they fall within the eventual Faculty Soccer Playoff mannequin — will have an effect on whether or not the sport continues, in addition to when within the schedule it's performed.
"I feel there's 1,000,000 explanation why we should always very critically, as a school soccer group, that we should always undertake the automated qualifying by way of the Faculty Soccer Playoff," Riley stated. "This could be a very powerful one, proper, is that we give each purpose for faculty soccer to protect nonconference video games that imply lots to the historical past of the sport and to the fan bases and the previous gamers and everyone that's been related to it."
Riley is referring to the 16-team playoff mannequin that the Large Ten, and its coaches, have been stumping for — one that offers it and the SEC a possible 4 automated qualifying spots within the CFP.
The USC coach stated one of many first ideas he had upon taking the USC job in late 2021 was that he would get to teach within the Notre Dame rivalry and stated he stays very hopeful that "we play this sport perpetually."
Irish coach Marcus Freeman voiced his opinion on the collection in Might, saying he, too, desires to see it proceed.
"It's fairly black and white for me. You need my opinion? I wish to play them each single 12 months," he stated. "When? I don't care. I don't care once we play them. Begin of the season, center of the season, finish of the season — I don't care. I wish to play USC yearly as a result of it's nice for faculty soccer."
The groups have performed yearly since 1926 (the exception being 1943-45 on account of World Struggle II). Whereas Notre Dame has been keen to work on a long-term deal to increase the rivalry, USC would favor a shorter deal to permit for flexibility.
Throughout Riley's tenure, USC is 1-2 towards the Irish, together with back-to-back double-digit losses during the last two seasons. Coming off a disappointing 7-6 marketing campaign final 12 months (with 5 losses by a landing), Riley and USC face mounting strain and expectations in what will probably be his fourth season on the helm.
"We're proper on the doorstep of getting a extremely nice run," Riley instructed ESPN. "Not simply this 12 months, however trying ahead. … finally, it's gonna occur."
The previous Oklahoma coach, who signed a reported 10-year contract with USC, is 24-16 with the Trojans. However they're 15-11 since a stunning 11-3 marketing campaign in his debut season, which Riley admitted Thursday was a slight overachievement.
"You're rebuilding a program — albeit a blueblood program, which has its challenges it doesn’t matter what," he stated. "And you then add in all that's modified round us for everyone on high of that — it's been a novel time to do it."
Riley stated yearly he's walked into convention media days, he's felt higher about the place this system is. The distinction is that the expectations are the very best they've been for it to translate into wins.
"Sooner or later you've bought to go do it on the sphere," he stated. "We perceive that."
Whereas his first two seasons with the Trojans featured heavy use of the switch portal, Riley stated they've now gotten again to constructing this system how they first envisioned – with recruiting and growth being extra integral.
"You need the outcomes proper now," Riley stated. "However then there's additionally the individual in there day-to-day who sees every thing and has been part of some fairly good packages and a few fairly good soccer groups that is aware of we're quickly gaining tempo in the direction of being that."

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