USC vs Notre Dame back on | Here's how they made it happen

Big Ten football news: USC, Notre Dame, Lincoln Riley and Marcus Freeman are at the center of a rivalry fight the national media got wrong. The final USC–Notre Dame deal shows why the Big Ten schedule—not fear—drove the controversy.

For two years, USC was accused of running away from Notre Dame. But when the rivalry was finally renewed, the games were moved into the opening weeks of the season—the scheduling format USC had been requesting.

JR examines how Lincoln Riley lost the public-relations battle while USC still won a major part of the negotiation.

Was USC genuinely trying to escape Notre Dame? Or did the national media ignore the realities of USC football’s move into the Big Ten?

This episode covers:

• Why USC wanted the Notre Dame game moved
• How Big Ten travel and television windows affected the negotiations
• Lincoln Riley’s costly messaging mistake
• Why Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame won the public narrative
• The problem with the “anytime, anywhere” argument
• Why an opening-week game could increase the rivalry’s national value
• Whether USC was ultimately vindicated
• What both programs—and college football fans—lost during the dispute

The Big Ten Huddle delivers Big Ten football news, analysis and commentary covering USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and every program across the conference.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 Did USC Run From Notre Dame?
01:19 What the Final Agreement Actually Does
03:36 Lincoln Riley’s Messaging Mistake
05:02 How Notre Dame Won the Narrative
05:58 The “Anytime, Anywhere” Problem
07:23 The Hidden Fight Over Schedule Control
08:05 Why Week 1 Could Improve the Rivalry
09:40 USC Is Still Scheduling Notre Dame
10:24 The Playoff Timing Argument
11:42 Notre Dame’s Side of the Negotiation
12:37 Riley Lost the Argument but Won the Deal
13:14 The Honest Verdict on USC
15:03 What Notre Dame Should Learn
16:10 Was USC Ultimately Vindicated?

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