USC, Lincoln Riley Reportedly Tried To Pull Cowardly Move Ahead Of LSU Game

USC reportedly tried dumping LSU from its 2024 football schedule.

The Trojans and Tigers open the season September 1st in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. It's one of the biggest games of the opening slate of action.

The fact the game is being played on Sunday means it will have the full attention of the college football world. If USC had its way, the game wouldn't even be happening, according to Saturday Down South.

USC reportedly tried to get out of its opening game against LSU. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

USC reportedly tried to dump LSU game.

SDS reported that Lincoln Riley's program "tried for nearly 2 years to find a way out of a contract to play LSU in Las Vegas" because he didn't want to face the Tigers.

USC reportedly even offered LSU different opponents to replace the Trojans, but the program in Baton Rouge wasn't interested in a switch.

The game will 100% happen as scheduled, and there's nothing at this point that can stop the Trojans and Tigers from taking the field in Las Vegas.

USC reportedly doesn't want to play LSU. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

If SDS' reporting is true - and it's a very credible site for SEC news - then I have to say this is a very weak look for the Trojans.

USC is now in the Big Ten. It's a man's league. It's big boy football and it's one of America's two premier college athletic conferences. Fans crave major matchups between historic schools.

The Tigers and Trojans are both solid programs with passionate fans. This is the kind of early season game fans crave, and yet, Riley apparently wanted the game to be dropped. Is he afraid of playing an SEC team? Is he worried the Trojans won't be any good?

He's going to be in for a brutal time in the B1G if that's the case. The conference is loaded with outstanding football programs. How's he going to face Ohio State or Michigan if he's scared to play LSU? As a B1G man, I don't want this limp-wristed energy in my conference or anywhere near it.

Will USC beat LSU in Las Vegas (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

LSU and USC have a lot of question marks heading into the 2024 campaign, but the expectation is both will be very competitive. I don't know whether or not that will be the case, but I definitely don't like any team that tries to duck big stages. I might have to go all in on LSU September 1st. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.