Rivalry Between USC and Notre Dame May Be Reignited

The ongoing rivalry between USC and Notre Dame might have a chance to continue. The Los Angeles Times has reported that discussions regarding reigniting their football series are back on after a previous breakdown in talks late last year.

Even if both teams get on the same page, there might be scheduling hurdles that could delay the series for several years. It’s interesting to consider, really. One major factor causing the earlier cancellation was Notre Dame’s hesitation to play in early-season games. But, reports suggest that Notre Dame might be reconsidering that approach.

Conversations had reached a deadlock before these new developments, which is somewhat frustrating when you think about it. USC had intended to include the game as part of their non-conference schedule early in the season, but Notre Dame wasn’t on board with that plan.

Another sticking point for USC was Notre Dame’s agreement with the College Football Playoff, which guaranteed the Irish a playoff spot if they ended up in the top 12 rankings. That’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow for Trojan officials, one might think.

After declining USC’s last offer in December, Notre Dame opted instead to establish a new nonconference series with Brigham Young, sidelining the Trojans for the time being.

Traditionally, the USC-Notre Dame rivalry has a history dating back to 1926. The two teams often faced off on the second or third Saturday in October in South Bend, and when they played in Los Angeles, it was typically right after Thanksgiving. This upcoming season, however, marks the first time they won’t play each other since the truncated 2020 season. Prior to that, their last absence was during World War II.