Brady Quinn slams Lincoln Riley for Notre Dame comments

Brady Quinn slams Lincoln Riley for Notre Dame comments originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn went after USC coach Lincoln Riley on Tuesday, accusing him of driving the decision to pause one of college football’s most storied rivalries.

While on FOX Sports Radio, Quinn went off about Riley’s public comments on the future of the Notre Dame-USC series. Quinn compared Riley’s tenure at USC to that of former coach Clay Helton, noting Riley’s 35-17 record and a single win over Notre Dame in four attempts in not a good look. 

Quinn also shot down Riley’s claim that Notre Dame backed away from its “anytime, anywhere” scheduling stance. Quinn said USC proposed dates it knew Notre Dame could not accept due to existing commitments, framing the offer as a public-relations move rather than a genuine attempt to preserve the rivalry.

“He hasn’t won a conference championship, hasn’t made the Playoff, and hasn’t won a Rose Bowl,” Quinn said, calling it “rich” for Riley to question Notre Dame’s motives.

🏈Lincoln Riley says that USC isn't to blame for the cancellation of the Notre Dame rivalry.

📺@Brady_Quinn gives @TheJonasKnox and @LaVarArrington every reason why this is just a PR move by the Trojans and how they are the REAL reason why this rivalry got canceled. pic.twitter.com/OXjWvLCLoP

— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) December 30, 2025

Quinn went further, revisiting Riley’s departure from Oklahoma and rumors linking him to LSU, arguing Riley has consistently avoided tougher competitive paths.

According to Quinn, shelving the rivalry strips USC of a defining annual stage. “That game brought relevance,” Quinn said. “And it’s gone because he knows he can’t win it.”

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