One of Notre Dame's longest-standing college football rivalries is coming to an end.
On Monday, the Fighting Irish announced a two-game series with the BYU Cougars in 2026 and 2027. This effectively puts an end to the annual Notre Dame-USC rivalry, whose contract expired in 2025.
Notre Dame has played USC consistently, dating back to 1926, and it's a big rivalry series. Although both schools tried to work out a deal to keep the series alive in 2026 and beyond, the two sides failed to reach an agreement to do so.
Let's take a look at why Notre Dame and USC have ended their annual series, marking for the first time since the 1940s that the game won't be played in consecutive seasons.
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Notre Dame vs. USC schedule dispute, explained
The main dispute between the two sides appears to be over the length of the new deal to implement, as far as scheduling goes. USC had offered a one-year extension to Notre Dame to play in Los Angeles in 2026 earlier this year, but the Irish were looking for a more long-term deal.
This is what Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde reported in May:
USC has expressed reluctance to enter into a long-term deal due to uncertainty about the future College Football Playoff format, and while assessing the demands of greater travel as a member of the Big Ten. USC has broached the idea of moving the game to a season-opening spot on the schedule, sources tell SI.
Notre Dame's status as an Independent in the FBS is partially due to wanting to preserve its traditional rivalries. The Irish, which are guaranteed to play five ACC opponents each year, also play the likes of Stanford, USC and Navy as traditional rivalries. Notre Dame's status as an Independent doesn't appear to be changing. In fact, ND already has several games with power-conference opponents mixed into its future schedule, such as Miami in 2026, who it played this season, Wisconsin in 2026, Auburn in 2027 and Texas in 2028 and Alabama in 2029.
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For Notre Dame, playing as an independent appears to be the best of both worlds. The Irish get to schedule big-name, non-conference opponents, while still keeping its annual rivalries with Stanford and Navy alive. Notre Dame also gets five annual ACC opponents to pad its resume every year. The Irish play in the ACC as a full-time member in every other NCAA sport; just football remains independent.
But you can see USC's side of things, in terms of not wanting a long-term deal, too. USC, which has never made it to the CFP, is hoping to change that in the coming seasons. The Trojans are now playing in the expanded Big Ten, as one of three West Coast teams, joining Oregon and Washington. Having to fly cross-country to play a few road games in a loaded Big Ten is already hard enough on USC's playoff hopes. Adding Notre Dame on top of its nine-game conference schedule makes USC's margin for error that much slimmer year after year.
While the game won't be played next year, it appears there is hope for a future agreement to be ironed out. Via ESPN's Pete Thamel:
Notre Dame-USC joint statement https://t.co/sD4ZSgbZuO pic.twitter.com/rZ7Y2sljEi
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 22, 2025
"I know our leadership administration and their leadership administration are talking to try to find a way to extend this, this rivalry, and so I'm confident it will be extended," Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said of the game in October. "I think the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC is a great rivalry, one of the best, and I think it's great for college football."
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When did the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry begin?
Notre Dame and USC first played on Dec. 4, 1926. It was played each and every year since 1926, with the exceptions coming in 1943-45 due to World War II, and in 2020, when Notre Dame played in the ACC as a full-time member during the shortened COVID-19 season.
It is considered one of college football's greatest rivalries, with both sides competing for the Jeweled Shillelagh trophy.
There is no annual rivalry that matches programs with more national titles. The schools combined have also produced 15 Heisman winners, as well as the most number of players selected in the NFL.
The rivalry has also spoiled national title hopes for one team, like Notre Dame beating undefeated USC in 1988, as well as in 1927, 1973 and 1995. USC spoiled Notre Dame's title hopes in 1938, 1964, 1970 and 1980.
Notre Dame vs. USC head-to-head record
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51-5-37, and the Irish had an 11-game win streak from 1983-93. The Trojans' longest win streak in the series came with five victories from 1978-1982. Notre Dame has won the last three straight wins in this series from 2023-25.
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