LAS VEGAS — After shots were fired all summer over USC’s hand in the future of its rivalry with Notre Dame, coach Lincoln Riley reiterated during Big Ten media day on Thursday that he “absolutely” wants to maintain the historic matchup.
“Do I want to play the game? Hell yeah, I want to play the game,” Riley said. “It’s one of the reasons I came here. But also, my allegiance and my loyalty is not to Notre Dame and not to anyone else. I’m the head coach of USC. I’m going to back USC.