USC Continues Trolling Notre Dame After Rivalry Pause

Trojans release video mocking ND's 'Think Big' slogan as they back away from series

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football game or rivalry between two schools, with sharp, overlapping planes of deep red, bright gold, and navy blue, conveying the competitive energy and tension of the matchup.USC's continued trolling of Notre Dame, even after backing out of their rivalry series, reveals an unusual fixation on their former opponent.Los Angeles Today

After USC canceled the long-running football rivalry series with Notre Dame, the Trojans have continued to take jabs at their former opponent. The latest example is a two-minute video that parodies Notre Dame's 'Think Big' recruiting slogan, with former Irish staffer Chad Bowden providing the voiceover to tell Notre Dame to 'Think Bigger.' This comes after USC previously released a vague video hinting at a recruiting win over the Irish.

Why it matters

The USC fixation on Notre Dame is seen as odd, considering the Trojans were the ones to back away from the rivalry series. Most programs would move on, but USC appears to have a 'little brother syndrome' when it comes to the Irish, continuing to take shots even after winning recruiting battles.

The details

In the latest video, USC uses Bowden's voice to mock Notre Dame's 'Think Big' slogan, telling the Irish to 'Think Bigger.' This follows a previous USC video that showed someone spray-painting grass red with the caption 'guess the grass wasn't greener,' which was interpreted as a vague shot at several schools, including Notre Dame. USC officials admitted they were the ones to end the long-running rivalry series with the Irish.

  • USC released the 'Think Bigger' video on March 26, 2026.
  • The previous 'grass wasn't greener' video was released after a recruiting win over Notre Dame.

The players

Lincoln Riley

The head football coach at USC.

Chad Bowden

A former Notre Dame staff member who provides the voiceover for USC's 'Think Bigger' video.

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What they’re saying

“✌️”

— USC Football

The takeaway

USC's continued trolling of Notre Dame, even after backing out of the rivalry series, shows the Trojans have an unusual fixation on their former opponent. Most programs would move on, but USC appears to have a 'little brother syndrome' when it comes to the Irish, unable to let go of their obsession.