Pete Bevacqua, athletic director for the University of Notre Dame, announces Pat Garrity as the new men's and women's basketball general manager, during a press conference at Notre Dame Stadium on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in South Bend. MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame Makes Its USC Rivalry Stance Clear: Keep Playing

Originally posted on Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI
By Nick Shepkowski | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 12:53 AM ET

While Lincoln Riley and USC continue to make excuses and try to back their way out of the Notre Dame rivalry, a different message remains clear from South Bend.

Keep playing the game.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua met with assembled media in South Bend on Tuesday and of course, the future of the USC rivalry game was brought up.

And of course, Bevacqua made his wishes crystal clear.

“I’ve said it. (Notre Dame head football coach) Marcus Freeman has said it. And we make no secret about it. We want to play USC every year. As I’ve said in the past, I just think that would be a horrible thing if we don’t. I think it would be bad for us. I think it would be bad for college football. And USC knows that.

“We’re going back, we’re having conversations to try to put something together. You have to ask them specifically, but we are 100 percent committed. A HUNDRED percent committed to doing everything we can to keep that series going."

Nick Shepkowski's Quick Takeaway:

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It doesn't get clearer than that. Notre Dame isn't making excuses, isn't trying to run from one of college football's most historic rivalries, and isn't hiding behind the College Football Playoff to schedule more easily.

Lincoln Riley has a certain corner of college football media that bought the used car he was selling regarding Notre Dame-USC at Big Ten Media Days last week, but anyone who has been paying attention knows he has no interest in continuing this game if it carries any more weight than an exhibtion game for his team.

This article first appeared on Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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