The USC-Notre Dame rivalry is one of college football’s most iconic traditions - a coast-to-coast clash that’s delivered nearly a century of history, drama, and unforgettable moments. But come 2026, for the first time in decades outside of global crises, it won’t be happening.
Not in 2026. Not in 2027.
Not until at least 2030, per reports. The two schools couldn’t come to an agreement, and Notre Dame has since filled the scheduling gap with a two-year deal to play BYU.
This isn’t just another game falling through the cracks. This is a seismic shift for fans of both programs and for college football as a whole.
The USC-Notre Dame series wasn’t just a game - it was a tradition, a ritual, a measuring stick for two of the sport’s most storied programs. And now, it’s on ice.
What Went Wrong?
At the heart of the breakdown was a scheduling conflict. With USC now navigating the rugged terrain of a Big Ten schedule, the Trojans wanted to move the annual matchup with Notre Dame to earlier in the season, likely September. From USC’s standpoint, it made sense - the back half of the Big Ten slate is a gauntlet, and squeezing in a non-conference heavyweight like the Irish in October or November would be a tough ask.
Notre Dame, however, wasn’t on board with that shift. And instead of finding a compromise, the two sides walked away. Notre Dame pivoted to a series with BYU, and the rivalry was shelved.
A Shared Loss
Let’s be clear: both programs bear responsibility here. USC wanted to adjust the terms.
Notre Dame didn’t want to budge. There’s no winner in this standoff - only fans and the sport itself lose out.
This isn’t about blame. It’s about missed opportunity.
The 2026 game would have marked the 100th anniversary of the rivalry. One hundred years.
That’s a milestone few matchups in college football - or any sport - can claim. Instead of celebrating a century of tradition, we’ll be left with a void where one of the sport’s most treasured games used to be.
A Rare Break in the Series
To put this in perspective, the only previous interruptions in the USC-Notre Dame series came during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. Those were extraordinary, unavoidable circumstances.
This? This was negotiable.
It was human. And it fell apart.
College football is no stranger to change. Conference realignment, expanded playoffs, NIL, and cross-country travel have transformed the sport.
But through all that, some traditions have endured. This one won’t - at least for the next several years.
What It Means for USC
For USC, this is a reputational hit. The Trojans have long prided themselves on embracing challenges, on playing the best, on the motto "Fight On!"
But pulling out of this series - even with logistical concerns - sends the wrong message. Yes, the Big Ten schedule is brutal.
But great programs lean into that. They don't step back from marquee games; they rise to the occasion.
Head coach Lincoln Riley, already under scrutiny after three underwhelming seasons (2022 being the exception), now faces even more pressure. Without Notre Dame on the schedule, there’s one less high-profile test - and one less opportunity to prove this program is still elite. If the Trojans don’t produce a strong 2026 campaign, expect the heat around Riley to intensify.
What It Means for Notre Dame
Notre Dame, too, has some explaining to do. Earlier this year, head coach Marcus Freeman said the Irish would “play anyone, anywhere, anytime.”
That kind of statement carries weight - especially when you’re leading a program built on tradition and national relevance. But when push came to shove, the Irish declined to accommodate USC’s request.
Whether that’s on Freeman or the administration, the optics aren’t great.
Notre Dame has always leaned into its independence, its willingness to go toe-to-toe with the best. Replacing USC with BYU - a solid program, but not a historic rival - doesn’t exactly scream “anyone, anywhere.”
A Broader Reflection on College Football
This moment is part of a larger trend in college football: the erosion of tradition in favor of convenience, dollars, and logistics. Programs are navigating new realities - longer travel, expanded conferences, and more complex schedules. But in the process, some of the sport’s soul is getting lost.
The Rose Bowl, for example, has famously resisted change. It still kicks off on January 1 in the afternoon, just like it has for generations.
That stubbornness is often criticized - but maybe it deserves more respect. Because it values tradition.
It values consistency. It understands that some things are worth preserving.
The USC-Notre Dame rivalry was one of those things.
Looking Ahead
The series isn’t dead forever. There’s hope it could resume in 2030.
But the damage is done. The 100th anniversary will pass without a game.
A generation of fans will miss out on what should have been a celebration of one of college football’s greatest rivalries.
And while college football will move on - as it always does - it won’t be quite the same. Some games are just different.
Some rivalries carry more weight. And when they disappear, even temporarily, the sport loses a little bit of what makes it special.
So here we are. No USC-Notre Dame in 2026.
No century-mark celebration. Just another reminder that in today’s college football, even the most sacred traditions are no longer guaranteed.