The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans are reportedly in active discussions to renew their historic rivalry series. Ryan Kartje of the LA Times had the report first.
2025 was the final scheduled game in the rivalry between Notre Dame. This came after talks between the two sides broke down. So, 2026 will be the first year the two sides don’t play since World War II, with the exception of the Covid-19 shortened season.
Both sides have had to replace the game in the coming seasons. That means their non-conference schedules appear full until 2030 at the earliest. Of course, it’s also possible to buy out non-conference games if they wanted to begin the series sooner.
Why Did the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish End Their Series
GettyNotre Dame vs. USC
Historically, the Notre Dame and USC series is a home-and-home, meaning that Notre Dame hosts one year and USC hosts the next. In years that the Irish play host, the game is held in the middle of the season. When the Trojans host, it’s the final week of the regular season.
USC was looking to make some changes to that schedule. That, particularly, included moving the game to earlier in the season, avoiding a typically very tough non-conference game in the middle of Big Ten play. That’s particularly true as USC has been battling to get to the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua hinted publicly that USC wanted out with the rivalry. Then, USC head coach Lincoln Riley would blame the Irish, arguing that they said they would play “anytime, anywhere,” so moving the game shouldn’t be a major issue.
The College Football Playoff has also been key in all of this. USC has never made it and has come up short several times, and sees a 9-3 record as a massive barrier to entry. Strength of schedule in the 12-team format isn’t forgiving enough of those three losses. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has guaranteed playoff berth if they finished in the top 12 of the final rankings. This is something the Trojans saw as a material advantage. Negotiations fell apart shortly after that guarantee came to light.
What has changed to lead to these new negotiations of the series may come down to the future of the College Football Playoff. Expansion is all but inevitable at this point. So, USC may feel more comfortable again with Notre Dame on the schedule.
The History of the Notre Dame – USC Series
GettyLincoln Riley and Marcus Freeman
There is perhaps no bigger rivalry between two teams outside of the same conference than Notre Dame and USC. First played in 1926, its beginnings are college football folklore, including that with both sides looking for a nationally prominent opponent, the wives of Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne and USC AD Gwynn Wilson convinced them to play the home-and-home.
Since then, the two sides have played 96 times, and the schools have combined for a total of 22 national championships and 15 Heisman Trophy winners. Notre Dame also has 102 consensus All-Americans, while USC has 82. They’re also first and second all-time in players drafted to play in the NFL.
Along the way, the series has been responsible for some iconic moments. That includes Notre Dame taking the field in green uniforms and a Trojan Horse, as well as the Bush Push.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51-37-5. That includes winning their last three games.
Notre Dame and USC Reportedly in Talks to Renew Historic Rivalry Series