Marcus Freeman Emphasizes Eternal Importance of Notre Dame-USC Rivalry, Says Timing Doesn’t Matter: “We’ll Always Play Them”

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman didn’t hesitate when asked about the future of one of college football’s most storied rivalries. His voice carried the conviction of tradition, history, and competition when he uttered seven simple but powerful words: “It don’t matter when we play ‘em.” For Freeman, the annual clash between the Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans is more than just another game on the schedule — it’s a cultural touchstone, a rite of passage, and something he believes must endure for as long as college football is played.

In an era where conference realignments, television contracts, and evolving playoff structures threaten to alter the very fabric of college football, Freeman’s sentiment is a defiant declaration of continuity. For Notre Dame and USC, the rivalry transcends league affiliations or national implications. It’s the intersection of Midwestern grit and West Coast flair, Catholic heritage against Hollywood swagger. It’s Knute Rockne and John McKay, Joe Montana and Marcus Allen, Lou Holtz and Pete Carroll. It’s about history, identity, and a battle that unites fanbases with deeply entrenched emotions.

Freeman, who took the reins of the Irish program in 2022, has quickly established himself not only as a capable head coach but as a steward of the program’s values. And at Notre Dame, few values carry more weight than tradition. For Freeman, maintaining the annual contest against USC is non-negotiable, regardless of how the landscape around it may shift.

“Rivalries are what make college football different from anything else,” Freeman said recently. “And there’s none bigger than Notre Dame versus USC. I don’t care if it’s Week 0 or the last week of the regular season — we’ll always play them. That’s the way it should be.”

The rivalry, which dates back to 1926, was originally conceived as a way to bridge the East and West coasts with a marquee intersectional game. Notre Dame athletic director Knute Rockne and USC coach Howard Jones agreed to schedule the series after the Irish played Army and Princeton with regularity. Now approaching its centennial, the Notre Dame-USC series has been played 94 times and remains the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football.

Despite interruptions only during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, the game has endured seismic shifts in the sport. Whether it was the rise of television coverage in the 1960s, the advent of the BCS in the 1990s, or the recent move toward a 12-team College Football Playoff, the Irish and the Trojans have met with nearly unbroken regularity.

But the latest round of conference realignments has fans worried. USC’s move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten has already shaken up traditional West Coast football. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s steadfast independence remains both a source of pride and logistical complication. As conferences expand and begin to prioritize in-conference matchups for strength of schedule and revenue-sharing reasons, the future of long-standing non-conference rivalries has grown less certain.

Freeman doesn’t buy into that worry. His stance is clear — regardless of what the schedule looks like or how the playoff structure evolves, Notre Dame will find a way to play USC.

“We’ll make it happen,” Freeman said. “There’s too much history, too much passion, too much on the line to let something like this go. Our fans expect it. Their fans expect it. I know what it means. I felt it the first time I coached in that game. It’s special, and we’re going to keep it alive.”

Freeman’s passion for the rivalry is backed by his experience. Since becoming head coach, he has witnessed the intensity of the Notre Dame-USC matchup up close. In 2022, his team fell to the Trojans in Los Angeles, a game that saw USC quarterback Caleb Williams cement his Heisman Trophy campaign. In 2023, the Irish got their revenge, dominating USC 48–20 in South Bend and avenging the prior year’s disappointment. That victory resonated deeply with Irish fans and players alike, further cementing the rivalry’s importance.

“The energy before that game, during that week, it was different,” Freeman said. “Our guys were locked in. You could feel the history in the air, and when we stepped onto that field, it wasn’t just about us or our record — it was about everyone who came before us, everyone who bled for this program, everyone who wore the gold helmet. That’s what this rivalry brings out.”

Freeman also emphasized that rivalries like Notre Dame-USC serve as foundational benchmarks for programs, giving players a chance to participate in something larger than themselves.

“College football’s changing, and some of it’s good,” he said. “But I hope we never lose sight of what makes this game great. It’s not just about who wins the national championship or who’s in the playoff. It’s about those moments that stick with you forever — the rivalries, the traditions, the games where the outcome echoes for decades.”

For Notre Dame, the USC rivalry is one of several sacred matchups. The annual games against Navy and Stanford have also long been fixtures, but it’s the showdown with the Trojans that resonates most. That’s because USC represents the ultimate measuring stick — another national powerhouse, another program with its own legacies and legends.

Freeman acknowledged that such games also play a vital role in player development and recruiting. “When kids come here, they want to be part of something meaningful,” he said. “They want to play in the biggest games on the biggest stages. USC gives us that. And we give them that. That’s not something you can manufacture. That’s built over decades.”

He also referenced the broader value of keeping long-standing rivalries intact in a world of frequent upheaval. “You look around and see some programs playing teams they’ve got no history with, in conferences that don’t make sense geographically or culturally. We’ve got something real. Something proven. We’re not giving that up.”

Indeed, many within the college football world have voiced concern that the breakneck speed of realignment could ultimately harm the sport. Rivalries like Oklahoma–Nebraska, Texas–Texas A&M, and Pitt–West Virginia have all been casualties at one point or another. Some have returned; others have faded into memory.

Freeman is determined to ensure Notre Dame-USC is never on that list.

“It’s not just about the schools, it’s about the fans, the alumni, the tradition,” he said. “People plan their fall around this game. I talk to fans who’ve been to thirty, forty of these. I’ve met grandfathers who brought their grandkids to their first Notre Dame game because it was against USC. You don’t let that go.”

His remarks come at a time when college football’s postseason is also expanding. With a 12-team playoff on the horizon, scheduling philosophies will evolve. Strength of schedule, quality wins, and conference championship games are expected to play major roles in determining which teams earn postseason berths. But Freeman believes Notre Dame’s brand, bolstered by games like the one against USC, will always keep the Irish in the national conversation.

“Playing USC doesn’t hurt us,” he said. “It makes us better. Win or lose, you find out who you are when you face your biggest rivals. We embrace that.”

Freeman’s embrace of the rivalry has earned him praise from Notre Dame’s loyal fanbase, many of whom worried about the long-term stability of the series. His no-nonsense approach and emphasis on tradition reflect a deep understanding of the program he now leads — one steeped in ritual, pride, and competition.

As the college football world continues to evolve, coaches like Freeman are critical to preserving its soul. The Notre Dame-USC rivalry isn’t just about rankings or results. It’s about legacy, and Freeman understands that better than most.

“It don’t matter when we play ’em,” he repeated. “What matters is that we do.”

And with those words, Marcus Freeman didn’t just reaffirm a rivalry — he reaffirmed what makes college football special.