One of college football’s most famous rivalries is coming to a stop, and USC head coach Lincoln Riley believes Notre Dame is to blame. Speaking at his Alamo Bowl press conference on Monday, Riley explained why the long-running series between USC and Notre Dame will not continue for now. According to Riley, Notre Dame did not honor a previous agreement, leaving USC with no choice but to walk away.
“Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we’d be playing them the next two years,” Riley said.
USC and Notre Dame have faced each other almost every season since 1946. The only time the game was missed before now was in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced major schedule changes across college football. Reports from the Los Angeles Times revealed that USC was originally willing to adjust the schedule and play Notre Dame in November during the 2026 season. However, USC changed its stance after learning Notre Dame had signed a memorandum of understanding with the College Football Playoff. That agreement gives Notre Dame added protection in playoff rankings, something USC felt created an unfair situation.
Because of that, USC pushed for the game to be played during Week Zero instead. Playing early in the season would reduce the risk of a late loss hurting USC’s playoff chances. The two sides could not agree, and talks eventually broke down. If Notre Dame’s playoff agreement had been in effect this season, the Irish likely would have earned the final at-large playoff spot over Miami, thanks to their guaranteed ranking inside the top 12.
With the rivalry on hold, Notre Dame has already filled the open dates. The Irish announced a home-and-home series with BYU for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. USC, meanwhile, is still searching for a replacement opponent. Both schools released a joint statement earlier this month, acknowledging the importance of the rivalry and leaving the door open for a future return.
“USC and Notre Dame recognize how special our rivalry is to our fans, our teams, and college football,” the statement said. “We look forward to meeting again in the future.”
Without USC on the schedule, Notre Dame’s 2026 slate appears more favorable. The Irish will have only three true road games. They will face teams such as North Carolina, Syracuse, and Purdue, along with neutral-site games against Wisconsin and Navy. Of those teams, only Navy finished bowl-eligible, and Notre Dame has won eight straight games in that series.
Looking ahead, BYU and Miami are the only teams on Notre Dame’s schedule expected to finish the 2025 season ranked nationally. Before the season began, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua made it clear he wanted the rivalry to continue. “I think Southern Cal and Notre Dame should play every year for as long as college football is played,” Bevacqua said. For now, though, one of college football’s most storied matchups will be missing from the schedule.
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