Notre Dame’s Rivalries With USC and Michigan Remain Two of College Football’s Most Iconic, Passionate, and Historically Significant Annual Showdowns
Few programs in college football boast the gravitas, tradition, and universal recognition that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish command. From their storied past to their national brand and independent status, Notre Dame sits at the intersection of legacy and relevance. But no matter how much the sport evolves—through realignment, expanded playoffs, or the NIL era—rivalries remain its beating heart. For Notre Dame, two rivalries have stood the test of time and now stand among the very best in college football: USC and Michigan.
These aren’t simply matchups filled with emotion. They’re deeply woven into the fabric of college football itself. Each clash features history, high stakes, unforgettable finishes, and elite talent. And both rivalries are still alive and relevant today, continuing to shape narratives year after year.
Let’s start with the most famous one: Notre Dame vs. USC. This rivalry doesn’t hinge on geography, conference affiliation, or even regional hostility—it’s a national rivalry, one that bridges the Midwest and the West Coast, tradition and glamour, grit and glitz.
The origin of the Notre Dame–USC rivalry dates back to 1926, and it was born from something rare in football: mutual respect and cooperation. Knute Rockne, Notre Dame’s iconic coach, and USC’s athletic department saw value in a yearly intersectional game that would attract national attention. Since then, the series has become a mainstay, only interrupted during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The beauty of this rivalry is that it has spanned multiple eras of the sport. It’s not just about Heisman winners and Hall of Fame coaches—it’s about how consistently this game has mattered. Whether it was Ara Parseghian vs. John McKay in the 1970s, Lou Holtz vs. Larry Smith in the 1990s, or Brian Kelly vs. Clay Helton in the 2010s, Notre Dame–USC has regularly featured ranked teams, playoff implications, and national spotlight.
Perhaps the most memorable chapter in recent memory came in 2005, in a game dubbed the “Bush Push.” With time running out and the Trojans trailing, Reggie Bush infamously shoved quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. The moment lives in both controversy and lore—exactly the kind of drama that elevates a rivalry to greatness.
But Notre Dame has had its moments, too. In 1988, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in Los Angeles ended with the Irish defeating the Trojans and eventually capturing a national title. In 1995, Ron Powlus led a furious comeback in South Bend. In 2010, the Irish ended an eight-game losing streak to USC with a gritty win in the Coliseum. Each game added another layer of meaning, and for fans of both programs, it became the measuring stick for success.
Notre Dame vs. USC is not just about the game—it’s about the journey. The alternating home sites between South Bend’s crisp autumn air and the sun-soaked backdrop of the Coliseum give it cinematic flair. There are few images in the sport as iconic as the golden helmets glinting under the Southern California sun or the Trojans marching into Notre Dame Stadium with pomp and confidence. The contrast of cultures—the Catholic Midwest school vs. the Hollywood-fueled Pac-12 titan—adds color to the competitive fire.
On the other side of the rivalry spectrum lies Notre Dame vs. Michigan—a game rooted more in tension, territorial pride, and a long history of back-and-forth dominance. This rivalry is more personal. Notre Dame and Michigan don’t just compete on the field—they compete for identity, legacy, and recruiting power across the Midwest. The disdain between the programs isn’t theatrical—it’s real.
Michigan famously canceled the series in the 1940s, reportedly over disagreements about the direction of the sport and Notre Dame’s rising national profile. The bitterness lasted decades. When the teams resumed play in the late 1970s, the games immediately rekindled old tensions. The matchups have typically been tightly contested, full of raw energy and unforgettable endings.
Consider the 1989 game, when Notre Dame, led by Rocket Ismail, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a dazzling display of speed that silenced the Big House crowd. That same year, the Irish were coming off a national championship and used the win over Michigan as proof they were still the team to beat.
In 2011, the rivalry gave us one of the most surreal finishes in college football history. In the first-ever night game at Michigan Stadium, the Wolverines scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:12 left, only for Notre Dame to respond with a 29-yard TD from Tommy Rees to Theo Riddick. But the drama didn’t end there. Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson led one final, heart-stopping drive, capped with a touchdown pass with just two seconds remaining. The crowd erupted, and the rivalry delivered yet again.
That’s the story with Notre Dame–Michigan: volatility, pride, and wild swings of momentum. These aren’t just games—they’re battles over supremacy in the region and superiority in historical standing. The two schools are titans of the sport, combining for dozens of national titles, Heisman winners, and All-Americans. Their clashes are weighted with more than playoff implications—they represent the very ethos of college football.
Even the temporary suspension of the series in the late 2010s couldn’t douse the intensity. In 2018, the rivalry returned to national television with both teams ranked. Notre Dame used a suffocating defense to build a lead and held off a late Michigan charge to win 24-17. A year later, Michigan got its revenge, pummeling the Irish 45-14 in a cold, rainy night in Ann Arbor—another classic swing in a seesaw rivalry.
While not currently an annual fixture, the hope remains that Notre Dame and Michigan will continue to meet regularly. The series, when active, produces some of the highest viewership numbers in the sport and consistently ranks among the most anticipated non-conference games of the year.
What makes both of these rivalries—against USC and Michigan—so enduring is that they transcend mere regional interest. These are national games, watched by fans across the country regardless of allegiance. They bring with them legacy, stakes, and a sense of occasion that few matchups can replicate. When Notre Dame plays USC or Michigan, it’s not just about who wins—it’s about history, pride, and adding a new chapter to a century-old story.
From the glitz of Los Angeles to the grit of Ann Arbor, Notre Dame’s two greatest rivalries showcase the full range of what makes college football special. USC offers drama, prestige, and bi-coastal fireworks. Michigan provides animosity, physicality, and tradition. Both challenge Notre Dame in different ways, and both have given fans moments they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
As the college football landscape continues to change—with superconferences emerging, playoff formats evolving, and new television deals reshaping schedules—rivalries like these are the anchors that hold the sport’s soul in place. And Notre Dame, fiercely independent but forever connected to its greatest foes, remains at the center of it all.
No matter the era, no matter the roster, and no matter the stakes, when the Irish meet the Trojans or the Wolverines, something special always happens. These aren’t just Notre Dame’s best rivalries—they’re among the best in all of college football.
