USC Drops Major SEC Opponent, Fans Roast Lincoln Riley

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Ole Miss and USC pulled the plug on the upcoming football series, and fans aren't happy.

The Trojans and Rebels were scheduled to play in 2025 and 2026, and it was a prime example of a non-conference matchup fans crave.

Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. The home-and-home has officially been killed.

USC/Ole Miss series canceled.

The news comes not long after it was revealed Lincoln Riley reportedly wanted USC to get out of a game against LSU - something the school wasn't able to do.

Well, fans apparently seem to think this all comes down to the USC coach being scared, and they're not afraid to say it publicly.

The reality of the situation is there isn't much of an incentive to play powerhouse non-conference opponents with the playoff now expanded to 12 teams.

Hell, there wasn't much of an incentive to do it with the four-team playoff. Michigan won the national title this past season after playing regular season non-conference games against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green.

It's sad for fans, but it's true. Unfortunately for Lincoln Riley, college football fans seem to think he's just running and hiding from the SEC.

Is that true? I have no idea, but the Ole Miss series being canceled shortly after news broke about USC wanting out of the LSU game is definitely a tough look.

USC's football series against Ole Miss has been canceled. (Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports)

The group that should really be upset the most is regular college football fans. Seeing USC and Ole Miss play twice in back-to-back years would have been awesome. Fans want to see matchups like that instead of major P4 teams playing cupcakes. Look at the excitement surrounding the Wisconsin/Alabama game. People are going crazy, and hype is off the charts. USC and Ole Miss would have generated similar results, but it's no longer going to happen. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

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David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.