Conference realignment makes future USC-LSU opening matchups unlikely
Two ranked and historic college football programs open the season in a sold-out stadium as a stand-alone prime-time game before a national TV audience in a glamorous city
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two ranked and historic college football programs open the season in a sold-out stadium as a stand-alone prime-time game before a national TV audience in a glamorous city.
Don't get used to it.
Conference realignment has had massive implications in college athletics, and that means Sunday night's game between No. 13 LSU and No. 23 Southern California in Las Vegas is an early season non-conference matchup that likely will become rarer.
This game was agreed to before the Trojans left for the Big Ten, one of four Pac-12 teams to make that move to the Midwest-based conference. With leagues such as the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference having added national powers, coaches at such programs probably won't be inclined to test their teams so early.
