One of college football’s most iconic rivalries is heading for an unexpected pause.
USC and Notre Dame won’t be facing off in 2026, ending a streak of annual matchups (with just one exception in 2020) that dates back to 1946. The two programs couldn’t come to terms on scheduling for that season, and while both sides remain committed to reviving the rivalry, it may not return until 2030 at the earliest.
For fans of The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh, this is more than just a gap in the calendar - it’s a break in tradition. This game has been a staple of fall Saturdays for generations, a West Coast-Midwest clash that’s delivered everything from Heisman moments to national title implications. Now, it’s on hold.
Notre Dame has already filled the void in its 2026 schedule with a home-and-home series against BYU, locking in a trip to Provo that rounds out its slate. USC, meanwhile, is actively searching for a replacement opponent.
Both schools released a joint statement acknowledging the significance of the rivalry and affirming their intent to bring it back.
“USC and Notre Dame recognize how special our rivalry is to our fans, our teams, and college football,” the statement read. “Our institutions will continue working towards bringing back The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh. The rivalry between our two schools is one of the best in all of sport, and we look forward to meeting again in the future.”
That’s the official line - but behind the scenes, there’s a more complicated story.
Back in November, USC and Notre Dame were reportedly close to finalizing a two-year extension of the series. But USC ultimately stepped back.
According to reports, the timing of the proposed games raised concerns, particularly with how the College Football Playoff selection committee tends to view late-season losses. In a playoff era where every detail matters, even a storied rivalry isn’t immune to strategic scheduling.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t rule out future games but made it clear that the new realities of conference play and playoff positioning are changing the landscape.
“There (have) been a lot of teams that sacrifice rivalry games,” Riley said during 2024 Big Ten Media Days. “I'm not saying that's what's going to happen, but as we get into this playoff structure and if it changes or not, we get into this new conference, we're going to learn some about this as we go and what the right and best track is to winning a national championship.”
That’s a nod to USC’s new life in the Big Ten, where the Trojans now face a grueling nine-game conference schedule. In 2025, they squared off against three ranked Big Ten opponents - a gauntlet that leaves little room for non-conference risks, even ones wrapped in tradition.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, has more flexibility as an independent, outside of its scheduling agreement with the ACC. That freedom gives the Irish more control over their path, but it didn’t help them in 2025 when they were left out of the CFP despite a 10-2 record and a 10-game win streak to close the season. Losses to Miami and Texas A&M to open the year proved too much to overcome.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule is already taking shape. The Irish will open against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field and host Rice, Michigan State, Miami, Boston College, SMU, and Stanford. Road trips include Purdue, North Carolina, Syracuse, and BYU, with a neutral-site game against Navy in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
As for the rivalry itself, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua made his feelings clear earlier this year:
“I think Southern Cal and Notre Dame should play every year for as long as college football is played, and SC knows that's how we feel.”
That sentiment echoes what many fans believe - that this game is bigger than just one season or one playoff format. But for now, the reality is that college football’s shifting landscape has put even its most enduring traditions on the clock.
Notre Dame has dominated the recent stretch of the rivalry, winning three straight and seven of the last eight. The Irish also hold the all-time series lead at 51-37-5. But whether that lead grows - or USC starts to claw back - will have to wait.
Until then, fans on both sides will be left with memories, hope, and the possibility that one of the sport’s great rivalries finds its way back onto the schedule before too long.