National writers stand up for preservation of USC-Notre Dame football series
On Monday, Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated released a bombshell report that the USC-Notre Dame rivalry is in serious jeopardy. According to Forde, the two sides are struggling to come to an agreement to extend the series contract, which currently only runs through 2026.
Following the news, Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports wrote a story arguing that the rivalry must be preserved at all costs.
“This is USC,” Jeyarajah wrote. “This program is too great to act this cowardly.
“USC ranks top 10 all time in wins and top five in national championships. They wear one of the most famous helmets in the sport and play in college football’s biggest media market. Riley is paid more than $10 million a year, and the expectation is to play in the biggest games on the biggest stages. Championship programs don’t reach the pinnacle by simplifying their path. Instead, they break through any barriers in front of them
“USC may complain about travel, but this is how Notre Dame has lived for 100 years. It’s managed to figure it out. USC can, too; that’s what the money is for. While there will be years with great Big Ten teams on the schedule, Notre Dame is USC’s most important rival. Throwing that away for the sake of softening their schedule borders on pathetic.”
Jeyarajah makes a valid point. While dropping Notre Dame would make USC’s schedule easier, the message that would send would be one of cowardice. It was one thing to cancel a home-and-home with Ole Miss that the Trojans had schedule for 2025 and 2026. But to drop one of college football’s greatest rivalries in the name of an easier schedule would be a travesty. Hopefully, the USC administration will realize this, and the two sides will be able to come to a deal to extend the series.
Source link : https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2025/05/21/national-voices-usc-notre-dame-football-must-continue/83755810007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-21 12:08:00
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