Something’s off in Trojanland. First, the USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame rivalry, the very heartbeat of West Coast college football lore, could flatline after this season. That, in itself, is seismic. But there’s another deeper tremor brewing beneath the Coliseum turf. One that Lincoln Riley must feel in his bones. The 137-year-old program has reached a crossroads. Some of the traditions that once made USC iconic now threaten to dull its shine in a rapidly evolving college football landscape. While not all of it falls squarely on Riley’s shoulders, his fingerprints—or lack thereof—will shape the path forward. And if USC wants to keep its recruiting magnet turned on, bold recalibration is no longer optional.

For starters, insiders close to the program have started whispering—not just about the Notre Dame series potentially fading into oblivion, but about the scheduling structure that may be holding USC back. On The Voice of College Football, analysts Matt and Ethan didn’t hold back. “I think it’s time for a revolution in scheduling,” Matt said. That revolution, however, comes with caveats.

“If you start in early August, there’s not going to be really any students around… USC historically starts around the week of August 20th, and then, like a week later is the first football game,” Ethan Inman added. It’s not just about logistics; it’s about engagement. And USC’s student fanbase? Ethan put it bluntly…

“The USC student fan base is pretty fair-weather, to be honest with you. I really wish they were more involved and more excited about it and not just in it for the party.” This isn’t just a gripe about kickoff dates or class calendars. It’s a culture issue. USC, unlike SEC powerhouses with deeply rooted in-state loyalty, draws a heavy crop of out-of-state and international students. Many simply aren’t on campus—or even in California—early enough to build gameday culture from the jump. “A lot of the student body isn’t even in-state, let alone on campus,” Ethan noted. And that’s a critical loss.

In a time when top recruits are swayed not just by coaching or facilities but by vibes—yes, vibes—game atmosphere matters. That first impression on a fall Saturday when a five-star walks into the Coliseum? It needs to hit different. And right now, it doesn’t.

Meanwhile, the friction surrounding the Notre Dame rivalry is setting off sparks elsewhere….

Several USC boosters, many of whom have poured not just passion but generational wealth into the program, are drawing a hard line. One even said he would cut the Trojans out of his will if the rivalry with the Irish is scrapped. That’s the level of devotion this fixture commands. It’s not just another game—it’s identity. And when you toy with identity, you better be ready for backlash.

The fear is simple: ditch the Irish, and the program’s mystique starts to fray. Not because of one scheduling shift, but because it signals something deeper—an erosion of ambition masked as a strategic retreat. To his credit, USC AD Cody Worsham tried to throw water on the fire. “We want the USC–Notre Dame rivalry to continue, which is why we offered an extension of the agreement,” he told Sports Illustrated. “It’s a special game to our fans and our institution. We will continue to work with Notre Dame on scheduling future games.”

But those words now sit awkwardly next to USC’s quiet refusal to commit long-term. While the official stance seems diplomatic, the perception reads defensive—and in college football, perception is reality. Especially when your own donors are starting to draw lines in the sand. It’s worth remembering what’s at stake.

USC isn’t just another blue blood; it’s the school that ran through the 2004 season like a freight train, going wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country. Stewart Mandel ranked that squad No. 5 on his list of the top 25 teams of the past 25 years.

Has Lincoln Riley finally cracked the code at USC?

With spring ball in the rearview mirror, all eyes in Trojan Nation are now locked on summer workouts and the slow burn toward fall camp. And if you ask CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli, there just might be a real reason for optimism this time around.

In a piece about Big Ten spring overreactions, Fornelli dropped this interesting tidbit on USC: “Lincoln Riley has figured it out: Last year, Riley made sure to overhaul the defensive staff,” he wrote. “This offseason, he’s gone to work reconfiguring USC’s entire recruiting apparatus, as well as other stuff behind the scenes that many other elite programs have always had, but, for whatever reasons, USC was behind on. He also has a returning starter at QB and one of the more talented receiving rooms in the country.”

It seems like Riley took a good look at things and decided it was time to stop winging it and start building a program like the big boys. After the 2024 season, the Trojans hired Chad Bowden as their general manager, and Bowden made it clear he wanted to focus on recruiting, especially within California. This focus has paid off, as their 2026 recruiting class is currently sitting pretty at No. 2 nationally, with 62% of their commits being from in-state. However, Fornelli also threw in a reminder that keeps fans grounded.

“Nobody will be shocked if USC is good this year. Of course, nobody will be shocked if they’re mediocre, either. That’s the one problem Riley truly needs to fix.” Seems like the jury’s still out on whether this new approach will consistently pay off.