Lincoln Riley says USC would be playing Notre Dame 'had some things come true that were said'

Marcus Freeman joins Colin Cowherd to discuss his 4 seasons coaching Notre Dame, the top RB prospect Jeremiyah Love, and expectations for CJ Carr and next season.

The 2026 college football season is rapidly approaching, and thanks mostly to the depth and quality of the top conferences, there's plenty of fascinating matchups between big teams. But where this season might lag behind others is the number of high-level non-conference matchups.

Yes, there are a few, like Ohio State-Texas, Oklahoma-Michigan, and Clemson-LSU early in the season, but with the expanded playoff and conferences, there's less incentive than in years past to schedule tough non-conference opponents.

And perhaps the biggest casualty of that change in philosophy is the long-standing rivalry game between the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

FLORIDA STATE-GEORGIA SERIES CANCELLATION IS OMINOUS SIGN FOR FUTURE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The "greatest intersectional rivalry in college sports," as it's traditionally been known, has been played 96 times over 100 years, with a few pauses for World War II and the COVID-19 lockdowns. It's always one of the most anticipated games of the season for fans of both teams, and even neutral fans who enjoy seeing the classic stadiums and uniforms, as well as the national relevance it frequently has.

But the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh won't take place in 2026 after negotiations between the two sides fell apart. Much of the blame was initially placed on USC head coach Lincoln Riley, but several other statements from the Notre Dame side of the aisle have received increased coverage in the aftermath. And during Big Ten media week, Riley once again hinted that the Irish did not live up to their promises or