Overview
- Speaking before the Alamo Bowl on Monday, Riley said Notre Dame failed to honor an "anytime, anywhere" pledge and rejected USC’s two‑year extension that would have moved the 2026 game to the start of the season.
- He asserted that Notre Dame scheduled a BYU home‑and‑home within minutes of the rejection, locking in replacements for 2026 and 2027.
- USC pressed for an early date to safeguard its College Football Playoff path, a stance shaped by reporting of Notre Dame’s memorandum with the CFP that strengthens the Irish’s at‑large odds when ranked in the top 12.
- USC points to Big Ten limits on late nonconference games as a constraint, while Notre Dame’s independence offers more scheduling flexibility.
- Both schools said they will work toward bringing the rivalry back, yet coverage indicates a return is unlikely before about 2030 as USC searches for a 2026 opponent.