Chicago — Conference realignment has thrown a wrench in many of college football’s traditional rivalries. At least one Big Ten coach says he feels a new one brewing with Michigan.
Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days, USC head coach Lincoln Riley said that the past two season’s games against Michigan have taken on the air of a rivalry. And though the Wolverines aren’t on the schedule this season, he’s looking forward to building more history with the Big Ten’s traditional teams.
“This has got a little bit of juice behind it,” Riley said. “Whether it’s at the Big House or at the Coliseum, those two programs walk on the field, those two helmets walk on the field, it’s like, damn, you know. This is real. It’s pretty cool, and I think everybody kind of feels that.”
Michigan’s Kalel Mullings ran in a 1-yard, fourth down touchdown with 37 seconds left to beat USC, 27-24, in a ranked clash at Michigan Stadium in 2024. The next year, USC pounded Michigan 31-13 in Los Angeles.
No, this quote-unquote rivalry isn’t replacing the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh for Southern Cal, or surpassing The Game in importance for Michigan. The Trojans will always have beef with Notre Dame and UCLA — no matter what scheduling drama there may be with the Irish. And the Wolverines’ rivals of Ohio State and Michigan State carry a certain regional animosity that is as hot as ever these days.
But hey, Michigan and Southern Cal aren’t without their history of clashes, like eight Rose Bowls from 1948 to 2007, though those were a little one-sided. The Trojans claimed six of them, including wins in 1970, 1977 and 1979 to sweep a decade. The NCAA recognizes 10 national championship wins for Michigan and nine for USC. The last meeting before USC joined the Big Ten was its 32-18 win over Michigan in the 2007 Rose Bowl.
“I think we’ll have that with several teams in the Big Ten,” Riley said. “And obviously Ohio State’s a natural one because of the histories of both schools individually and together.”
Southern Cal (9-4 last season) ranked fourth in USA Today’s preseason Big Ten poll. Michigan (also 9-4), in the first year under former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, ranked fifth.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: USC coach Lincoln Riley says he feels rivalry brewing with Michigan
Reporting by Connor Earegood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Connor Earegood, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
