Now that USC has managed to rid itself of playing (and losing) to Notre Dame every season, Lincoln Riley is full of confidence. In fact, he thinks the Trojans are officially ready to make a run for the National Title.
Speaking to On3, Riley said that he believes the window is open for a return to the USC dynasty years of old. “Taking this over, you knew you had to go fight like hell just to try to get this window opened.”
Lincoln Riley's latest claim has Notre Dame football fans thoroughly confused
Cue the "Sure, Jan" Brady Bunch gifs. Notre Dame football fans all over the internet likely spit out whatever they were drinking when they read that line. Fight like hell? More like run like hell.
https://t.co/YgBXf2TKqv pic.twitter.com/O2NBnspxlD
— Oliver VanDervoort (@itmeolliev) April 21, 2026
I suppose fighting like hell to make sure their schedule was easier technically qualifies for Lincoln Riley and USC. The program even admitted at the time they were the ones who decided to pull the plug on talks about extending the historic rivalry wtih the Fighting Irish.
Of course, in true Lincoln Riley fashion, he's backpedaled. He's talked a big game about being a tough guy. Riley claimed that all his mediocrity since taking over the Trojans was part of a bigger plan.
Notre Dame knows a thing or two about USC's 'fight like hell' claim
The plan was to soften the road to the College Football Playoffs. After canceling the series with Notre Dame, who did USC replace Marcus Freeman's squad with? San Jose State. Riley's non-conference schedule is now the Spartans, Fresno State, and Louisiana.
That's fighting like hell? That guaranteed 3-0 start?
In Riley's defense, it's not like he's the first Power 4 coach to get the easiest possible non-conference schedule. Most programs are doing this kind of thing in this era of college football. What's utter nonsense, what no one should abide, why no one should take what he said seriously, is acting like that schedule is part of a "never say die" approach.
Notre Dame fans are used to the man sounding rather silly. The Irish beat USC down so badly the last time the two programs faced each other that Lincoln Riley admitted he did a poor job. Rewriting history in this case isn't going to work for anyone paying any attention.
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