Irish Seeking to Continue Rivalry Despite Notre Dame-USC Football Series in Danger

The historic college football rivalry between Notre Dame and USC has stood the test of time for nearly a century, embodying tradition, national prominence, and mutual respect. Yet, in an era of conference realignment, changing TV deals, and unprecedented scheduling conflicts, one of college football’s most treasured annual contests is now in jeopardy.

Despite reports that the series could be disrupted or possibly paused, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are making it clear—they want the rivalry to continue. As uncertainty looms over the future of the Notre Dame-USC game, the Irish are actively seeking ways to preserve what they consider a foundational aspect of their football identity.

The Notre Dame–USC rivalry dates back to 1926, when Knute Rockne’s Irish traveled west to Los Angeles to take on the Trojans in what would become the beginning of an annual clash that grew into a college football institution. For nearly a century, barring interruptions during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the two programs have faced off every year, alternating locations between South Bend and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The rivalry has featured Heisman winners, national champions, and countless moments that shaped the college football landscape. From the Bush Push to the Game of the Century, Notre Dame-USC is synonymous with big stakes and iconic performances. But now, the shifting tectonics of college football threaten to undo the consistent tradition that fans on both coasts have come to cherish.At the center of the uncertainty is USC’s 2024 entry into the Big Ten Conference, a seismic move that carries significant scheduling complications. As part of their new conference obligations, the Trojans will play nine Big Ten games per season, leaving them with limited flexibility to maintain longstanding non-conference series like the one with Notre Dame.

The issue isn’t unique to USC. Other programs joining the Big Ten, such as UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, also face similar constraints. But USC’s relationship with Notre Dame is arguably the most prominent and most precarious, given its annual nature and cross-country logistics.

Adding to the complexity is the Big Ten’s evolving media rights deal, which includes extensive obligations to Fox, CBS, and NBC—Notre Dame’s exclusive television partner for home games. This creates additional hurdles for scheduling, particularly regarding kickoff times, broadcasting windows, and travel demands.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley has publicly stated his appreciation for the Notre Dame rivalry, but has also acknowledged the difficulties in maintaining it under the new Big Ten framework. “It’s one of the great games in college football,” Riley said last fall. “But we have to be realistic about what the schedule looks like moving forward.”

For Notre Dame, the sentiment is clear: they want to continue the rivalry with USC—no matter what. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who has long championed the value of traditional rivalries in college football, emphasized that preserving the USC series remains a top priority for the program.

“We’re fully committed to playing USC,” Swarbrick told reporters earlier this year. “We believe in the value of that rivalry, not just for our program but for college football as a whole.”

Swarbrick has reportedly been in ongoing discussions with USC officials and Big Ten representatives to explore solutions that would allow the annual game to proceed. One potential solution floated involves maintaining the series on a rotational basis—perhaps every other year or two out of every three seasons—to accommodate the new scheduling parameters.

But Notre Dame’s preference remains crystal clear: a yearly showdown.

The Irish have already agreed to future matchups with the Trojans through 2026, and they’re willing to work creatively beyond that to keep the series alive. “This is bigger than just another game on the calendar,” Swarbrick added. “This is part of our identity.”

The looming threat to the Notre Dame-USC rivalry is a sobering reflection of the broader changes reshaping college football. As conferences expand and media partners exert more influence over scheduling and revenue streams, traditional rivalries are often the first casualties.

The Texas-Texas A&M series was paused for nearly a decade after the Aggies joined the SEC. The Backyard Brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia vanished for years. Even Michigan and Notre Dame’s rivalry has experienced interruptions.

College football fans have watched with increasing concern as the soul of the sport—its regional passions and historical pageantry—gets diluted by television contracts and conference realignment.

The danger to the Notre Dame-USC series serves as a reminder that no rivalry, no matter how iconic, is immune.

News of the potential end to the Notre Dame-USC annual clash has not gone over well with fans. On social media, message boards, and talk radio, supporters from both programs have expressed frustration and sadness at the possibility of losing one of college football’s most anticipated games.

“Ending this rivalry would be a disgrace to college football,” wrote one USC fan on Reddit. “It’s part of our identity as much as it is Notre Dame’s.”

Notre Dame fans echoed the sentiment. “USC week is a part of the Notre Dame experience,” said Sean Dillon, a 2003 graduate. “It’s not just a football game—it’s tradition, it’s rivalry, it’s history.”

Petitions have circulated online calling for both schools to preserve the annual meeting. Alumni groups from Notre Dame and USC have reportedly reached out to their respective athletic departments to express concern and advocate for the continuation of the series.

Beyond the tradition and history, the Notre Dame-USC rivalry serves a deeper purpose for both schools. For Notre Dame, it provides a marquee opponent from a different region of the country—offering a signature game with national implications nearly every season. For USC, it delivers prestige and exposure against a nationally recognized independent power.

The game also serves recruiting purposes. USC uses it as a platform to reach East Coast and Midwest recruits, while Notre Dame gains visibility in California, a critical pipeline for talent.

From a financial standpoint, the game is a ratings magnet. The 2023 installment drew over 6.4 million viewers on NBC, making it one of the most-watched regular season games of the year. Networks are well aware of its drawing power, but balancing that with broader Big Ten obligations is the challenge.

Despite the uncertainty, there are reasons for optimism. Notre Dame has proven flexible and innovative in managing an independent schedule, and USC’s leadership remains respectful of the series’ importance. The two programs have a shared interest in preserving their rivalry—not just for nostalgia, but for relevance and brand strength.

Several models are under discussion:

1. Fixed Non-Conference Slot: The Big Ten could allow USC a permanent non-conference exemption to play Notre Dame every year—similar to what the ACC grants Florida State and Clemson to play Florida and South Carolina, respectively.
2. Biennial Series: A less ideal but plausible option would involve playing the series every other year, perhaps rotating home games to mitigate travel burdens.
3. Neutral Site Rotation: Occasionally playing the game at neutral sites like Las Vegas or Chicago could appeal to television partners while giving both fan bases a unique experience.

Whatever the outcome, Notre Dame is not standing idly by. With a new athletic director set to take over following Swarbrick’s retirement, continuity and commitment to the USC rivalry remains a priority in the program’s long-term vision.

College football is changing rapidly. Conference borders are expanding, TV deals are reshaping the calendar, and the traditions that once defined Saturdays in the fall are increasingly vulnerable to extinction.

But amid this whirlwind, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are taking a stand—not for profit, but for tradition. In a sport increasingly dominated by revenue and realignment, their desire to preserve the Notre Dame-USC rivalry is a refreshing act of defiance.

Only time will tell whether the series survives intact. But one thing is certain: the Irish are not letting it go without a fight.

As the 100th anniversary of the rivalry approaches in 2026, both programs have a unique opportunity. They can choose to honor the game’s history and show the nation that some traditions are too important to lose. Or they can allow the tide of change to sweep away another treasured rivalry.