Lincoln Riley and the USC football program made headlines when they announced the hiring of Chad Bowden as their new general manager. Previously the general manager at Notre Dame, the Trojans were able to steal Bowden away from their longtime archrival.

This marks the first time USC GM Chad Bowden has worked for a college football program without Marcus Freeman on staff. Their association dates to 2017.

A lot has transpired at USC since, as evidenced by the four new faces who addressed the media after Riley: general manager Chad Bowden, linebackers coach Rob Ryan, inside receivers/tight ends coach Chad Savage and corners coach Trovon Reed. All four of those staffers have joined the program in the past month.

The message from the most recent press conference was clear from USC Trojans general manager Chad Bowden: The USC Trojans are going to recruit aggressively and change the team's foundation. Why did Bowden leave Notre Dame and coach Marcus Freeman?

Notre Dame 's exceptional 2024 season is being followed by a very rough offseason as the Irish have suffered another key departure. USC has hired former Irish general manager Chad Bowden for the same role.

Chad Bowden was hired as USC's general manager on Jan. 24, a few days after Notre Dame's defeat to Ohio State in the national championship game.

“Notre Dame is targeting Texas Tech’s James Blanchard for its new general manager position, sources tell me and @TomLoy247 for @CBSSports/@247Sports,” Matt Zenitz said in a post. “At Texas Tech, Blanchard has become of the nation’s most respected college front office figures.”

Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that Chad Bowden, earlier this month named as FootballScoop's Player Personnel Director of the Year as voted by his peers, has emerged as the top target in USC's ongoing search for its general manager.