USC and Notre Dame in Talks to Renew Historic Rivalry
The University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California are currently engaged in discussions to bring back their long-standing rivalry, as reported by USC.
According to a report by Ryan Kartje, it remains uncertain when the rivalry will actually resume or what the specific terms will be. A source with knowledge of the discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Notre Dame seems open to the idea of hosting early-season games, which has previously been a point of contention.
However, competition is not expected to restart until 2030.
This rivalry is known as one of the most intense in college athletics and has a rich history, dating back to their first matchup in 1926. Since then, the teams have faced each other 93 times.
Following the 2025 season, USC and Notre Dame officials were unable to come to an agreement to continue their rivalry game. One significant issue has been USC’s desire to play earlier in the season, whereas Notre Dame prefers to maintain its traditional schedule of mid-October matches.
Without referencing Notre Dame directly, USC athletic director Jen Cohen discussed the hurdles that the Trojans will encounter in late-season games against tough non-conference teams and how these factors could affect their chances in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
“Making the route to the CFP noticeably tougher than for our Big Ten rivals doesn’t align with our championship aspirations,” she remarked.
Recently, the idea that USC might be willing to reignite the rivalry has surfaced alongside discussions supporting an expansion to a 24-team playoff format. A recent vote from the American Football Coaches Association and backing from almost every conference, except the SEC, would boost USC’s chances of advancing to the CFP significantly if the field were expanded.
Yet, even with potential expansion on the horizon, it remains quite a distance away. A brief pause in this rivalry—one that Notre Dame has largely controlled in recent years—might create an unprecedented opportunity for USC to secure a place in the College Football Playoff.
