Week 8 of college football is everything we love about the game. The slate includes heavyweights going against each other and some matchups with potential for upset. We already saw two upsets on Friday. Louisville took down Miami, and Minnesota defeated Nebraska. CFB analyst Paul Finebaum has his eyes on one key game. The rivalry clash between USC and Notre Dame at South Bend. Previewing the game, Finebaum talked about the Trojans’ head coach, Lincoln Riley, and you’d be surprised to see the change in his tone.

Paul Finebaum is not the one to mince words. If he doesn’t like someone, he’d say it outright. At times, it seems like he’s fighting a battle with himself in his failure to correct his wrong opinions. Two days ago, the ESPN analyst appeared on First Take to bash Curt Cignetti’s contract extension at Indiana. This was days after he called him ‘unlikeable,’ even after admitting the turnaround at the Hoosiers.

Finebaum has held a similar opinion of Lincoln Riley. Since the time the QB-whisperer stepped foot at USC, he has been having a go at him. Paul Finebaum has heavily criticized Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC, pointing out that high expectations have not been matched with corresponding results. Finebaum has even gone on to call the fourth-highest-paid head coach in college football a ‘fraud’ ahead of the 2025 season. Last year, he took similar shots, and at the end, he was proven right after USC failed to make it to the playoffs yet another time. This time though, there’s a change in the tone.

In an appearance on ESPN’s morning show ‘Get Up,’ Finebaum opined, “Lincoln Riley brought this program back. Watch out — here come the Trojans,” as he picked USC over Notre Dame. Addressing the Fighting Irish, Finebaum highlighted that Marcus Freeman’s side hasn’t won against any good teams, hence giving USC the edge over their longtime rivals.

But more than his comments on the game, it’s what he said about Riley that got our attention. “Lincoln Riley brought this program back. Watch out—here come the Trojans,” Finebaum said. Gone are the ‘fraud’ tags.

The No. 20 Trojans have a record of 5-1 and defeated the Michigan Wolverines 31-13 before their South Bend trip. This season marks a significant improvement for Riley and Co., as they settled for a 7-6 finish last year. Now, with the Fighting Irish under tremendous pressure, the Trojans could clinch a monumental victory and continue their ascent ahead of the playoffs.

“The Most Intriguing Game”: Paul Finebaum on USC-Notre Dame

Continuing his analysis, Paul Finebaum reminded his fellow panelists about the importance of the ‘Jeweled Shillelagh Game’ on ESPN’s First Take. Finebaum pointed out that this game could have a big impact on the upcoming Playoffs. He also stressed how this might be the last chapter in one of college football’s most famous rivalries.

“I think that the most intriguing game is Southern Cal at Notre Dame. One reason is that this game is about to go away. Growing up, this was maybe the biggest game of the year in college football, and I think it’s incredibly important. If Notre Dame loses, they are done with the playoffs,” Finebaum expressed.

As all eyes turn to South Bend, Indiana. The USC vs. Notre Dame promises high stakes with playoff hopes on the line. Further, it’s also the final chapter of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football.