What USC coach Lincoln Riley said about Notre Dame football on Monday
Lincoln Riley said Monday on Trojans Live that he has never been to Notre Dame. Saturday’s game between the No. 21 Fighting Irish (5-2) and the No. 10 USC Trojans (6-0) will be his first trip to South Bend.
“Going up there as a USC Trojan for the first time feels right,” he said.
Riley also noted USC has not beaten the Irish at Notre Dame Stadium since 2011. He said it will be a great challenge for his Trojans to knock off the Irish on the road for the first time in a dozen years. Here is everything else Riley said about Notre Dame during his short segment on Trojans Live.
On the Notre Dame defense
“We’ve enjoyed watching them. They’re a good team. They’re playing at a high level defensively again like they did last season. Return a lot of familiar faces. They’re one of the older defenses that we’ll play. Seniors all over the place. Lot of experience. Few different guys on the front. They graduated a couple of really good players there. Still playing at a high level. They’ve been effective. A couple of really good players in the secondary. The two linebackers are the same guys that we played against last year. They’re both really good players.”
On the Notre Dame offense
“Obviously, the transfer quarterback has come in and overall done a really nice job for them. They move the ball efficiently. He’s played very well. A few new people in the supporting cast, certainly at the receiver position. Obviously lost a great tight end from last year but still featuring the tight end prominently in the throw game like they always tend to do. Big, physical offensive line. Kind of what you come to expect out of playing Notre Dame.”
On if he leans into the rivalry or if he tries to just make it about USC
“I’m a little bit more of just about the game, but we did a little bit last year before the game and we’ll do a little bit more this year just to give them a taste of the history. I don’t want us to focus on that but I don’t want us to completely miss it and not understand it either. This is an important game to college football. This is one of those games that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. That’s just how these games go.
“You do need to understand what a privilege it is to play in this game where so many other great teams and players have been a part of. It’s been a nationally relevant game for a long, long time. It always will be. I think any time you sign up to come play at USC or come coach at USC, you think about getting a chance to compete in this game. So here it is for us.”
On rain in the forecast in South Bend
“We’re always aware of it. It’s something we practice throughout the year. Fortunately we had a pretty rainy year in Southern California as we all know. We had a lot of good opportunities to work in the elements this spring. We took advantage of it, which looking back on it was well played on our part.
“If conditions are a factor, you got to be ready to adjust. It’s football. That’s part of it. It can change the game in some ways. Hopefully we’ll be able to handle it well.”
