Honestly, it feels like a punch to the gut for anyone who grew up watching the Jeweled Shillelagh change hands every year. The news that USC football vs Notre Dame is officially going on hiatus starting in 2026 isn't just a scheduling quirk. It’s a full-blown identity crisis for college football.
For the first time since World War II—excluding that weird COVID-shortened 2020 season—one of the most storied matchups in the country is disappearing from the calendar. Notre Dame just filled their 2026 slot with BYU. USC is looking at Big Ten travel schedules and basically saying, "We're full."
Why the USC Football vs Notre Dame Rivalry is Breaking Up
It’s not because the teams don't like each other. If anything, the hate is what makes it work. But the math has changed.
USC is now deep in the Big Ten. That means road trips to Rutgers and Maryland. It means a nine-game conference grind that leaves exactly zero room for error. Lincoln Riley and the USC administration have been pushing to move the game to earlier in the season—think Week Zero or early September.
Notre Dame isn't having it. They like their tradition. They like hosting USC in the chilly Indiana October and heading to the Coliseum when the leaves are dead everywhere else. Marcus Freeman has been vocal about wanting to keep the game, but the "independent" life of the Irish is getting complicated. They need a path to the College Football Playoff, and right now, the scheduling logistics are a nightmare.
The Recent Bloodshed on the Field
If you watched the 2025 matchup in South Bend, you saw a microcosm of why this game matters. Notre Dame beat USC 34-24 in a game that felt like a heavyweight fight in the rain.
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Jeremiyah Love was a man possessed. He put up a career-best 228 rushing yards. Just carving through the Trojan defense. Then you had Jadarian Price breaking the game open with a 100-yard kickoff return that basically sucked the air out of the USC sideline.
- Final Score: Notre Dame 34, USC 24
- The Hero: Jeremiyah Love (228 yards, 1 TD)
- The Momentum Shifter: Jadarian Price's 100-yard return
USC kept it close, but the defense just couldn't get off the field when it mattered. It was Marcus Freeman’s third straight win over the Trojans. That’s a stat that’s going to sit heavy on Lincoln Riley’s shoulders for the next few years while the rivalry sits on a shelf.
What Most People Get Wrong About the History
People think this is a "regional" thing that somehow became national. It’s not. It was never regional.
This rivalry was born out of a conversation between wives. Legend has it that Knute Rockne’s wife, Bonnie, wanted a trip to sunny Southern California. So, in 1926, they started playing. It’s the greatest "intersectional" rivalry because it doesn't rely on being in the same backyard. It relies on being the two biggest brands in the sport.
Look at the Heisman numbers. It's ridiculous.
USC has 8 winners (if you count the restored one for Reggie Bush). Notre Dame has 7. That’s 15 Heismans in one game. You’ve got names like O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, and Caleb Williams on one side. On the other? Tim Brown, Paul Hornung, and Angelo Bertelli.
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The trophy itself, the Jeweled Shillelagh, tells the story better than any record book. It’s a Gaelic war club. Every time USC wins, a ruby-encrusted Trojan head gets added. Every time the Irish win, a emerald shamrock goes on. Right now, that club is getting pretty heavy with green. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 53-38-5.
The 2026 and 2027 Gap: What Happens Now?
Basically, we enter the dark ages.
Notre Dame has confirmed they are playing BYU in 2026 (Provo) and 2027 (South Bend). USC is currently staring at a 2026 schedule that features Fresno State and Louisiana as their non-conference "fillers." No offense to the Ragin' Cajuns, but it's not exactly the same energy as a sold-out Coliseum under the lights against the Golden Domers.
There are rumors—and take these with a grain of salt—that the game could return in 2030. Why 2030? Because that’s when the current TV deals for the Big Ten and NBC (for Notre Dame) expire. There’s a lot of talk about a streamer like Netflix trying to buy the rights to a "one-off" version of this game in Las Vegas.
It sounds corporate. It sounds shiny. It also sounds like it loses the soul of the rivalry.
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Actionable Insight for Fans
If you’re a fan, don’t expect a surprise announcement for 2026. It’s done. But here is what you can do:
- Watch the 2025 replay: If you want to see the last "traditional" version of this for a while, find the highlights of the Jeremiyah Love show. It was a masterclass in physical football.
- Monitor the 2030 negotiations: The joint statement from both schools said they are "working to bring back the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh." Keep an eye on the Big Ten’s scheduling meetings in late 2026; that’s where the real decisions will happen.
- Appreciate the Independents: Notre Dame’s refusal to join a conference is the main reason this game is hard to schedule. If they eventually cave and join the ACC or Big Ten, this game becomes much easier to lock in annually.
The reality is that USC football vs Notre Dame is a victim of its own success. Both programs are trying to navigate a new world where a single loss in October can end your playoff hopes. It’s a shame, because college football is better when these two are hitting each other.
For now, the Shillelagh stays in South Bend. And based on the current schedules, it’s going to be collecting dust there for a long, long time.
Next Steps for the 2026 Season
With the rivalry on ice, USC fans should focus on the 2026 Big Ten slate, which will be released in full later this year. Notre Dame fans can look toward the BYU series as a unique home-and-home replacement. If you're looking to catch a high-stakes game in 2026, keep your eyes on the USC vs Michigan or Notre Dame vs Texas matchups, which are expected to fill the "big game" void left by this hiatus.