Irish Breakdown is joined by Southern Cal insider RJ Abeytia for plenty of Trojan topics on today's show. IB's Sean Stires asks Abeytia about the future of the Notre Dame-USC football series, the impact of Lincoln Riley hiring former Irish GM Chad Bowden to the same position in Troy, Riley's future and more.

Nov 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view of helmets at the line of scrimmage as Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Zeke Correll (52) snaps the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Trojans will open the season with four extremely winnable games, giving them the opportunity to start off on a high note.

USC lost out on landing 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman Tiki Hola of Bastrop, Tex., on Saturday. Hola announced his verbal commitment to USC rival Notre Dame. Hayes Fawcett of On3 confirmed USC was in the final running for the powerful Hola.

Notre Dame has made a dedicated approach to getting bigger and stronger in the trenches and believes it has done just that by adding Hola to the 2026 class. Hola joins fellow four-star defensive lineman Ebenezer Ewetade and five-star Rodney Dunham in Notre Dame's defensive line class thus far.

Answering your questions about how Notre Dame has improved, what the 12-year Clemson series means, recruiting, Mike Mickens and more.

Things are moving incredibly quick with the Notre Dame football staff and 2026 Waxahachie (Texas) High School wide receiver Kohen Brown. Formerly committed to the USC Trojans, Brown was offered by the Fighting Irish last week.