One of the most storied rivalries in all of college football could reportedly be coming to an end, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.
Notre Dame and USC, who have played each other 95 times over the course of nearly a century, only have an agreement to play one more game this upcoming season — despite attempts from Notre Dame’s side to keep the rivalry going.
The two bluebloods apparently don’t see eye-to-eye on continuing their annual fall meeting, with the Trojans only reportedly offering a one-year extension for 2026.
News: The USC-Notre Dame rivalry, one of the greatest in college football, is on the brink of ending this fall. The two sides see the situation very differently, with talks ongoing. https://t.co/VsPyH8NyvC
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) May 19, 2025
“I think Southern Cal and Notre Dame should play every year for as long as college football is played,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua argued. “And SC knows that’s how we feel.”
USC is rumored to be reluctant to negotiate a long-term deal due to uncertainty about the future of the College Football Playoff, as well as the school’s increased travel demands as a new member of the Big Ten.
The Trojans have also put forth the idea of moving the game to a season-opening spot on the schedule, a source told the publication.
“We want the USC–Notre Dame rivalry to continue, which is why we offered an extension of our agreement,” said USC associate athletic director Cody Worsham. “It’s a special game to our fans and our institution. We will continue to work with Notre Dame on scheduling future games.”
The Trojans and Irish have played their rivalry game every year but four, missing three matchups in the midst of World War II and another due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
No rivalry in college football boasts more national championships, so it would really be a shame to see the matchup go extinct.
Hopefully the two sides are able to find some common ground and find something that works in the best interest of their respective universities, and more importantly, their fans.
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