Honestly, the news hitting the wires this past December felt like a punch to the gut for anyone who grew up watching the Saturday after Thanksgiving. USC vs Notre Dame is basically the "Great American Rivalry." It’s the game that transcends conferences, geography, and even common sense sometimes. And yet, here we are in 2026, looking at a schedule that doesn’t have the Trojans and the Irish slated to smash into each other for the first time since the pandemic—and before that, World War II.
It’s weird.
For nearly a century, this matchup has been the gold standard of "intersectional" rivalries. You’ve got the glitz of Los Angeles versus the tradition of South Bend. Palm trees vs. Touchdown Jesus. If you’re a fan, you know the drill: the game is in October when it’s at Notre Dame and in late November when it’s at the Coliseum. Simple. Iconic. But that rhythm is officially broken.
The 2026 Hiatus: Why USC vs Notre Dame is on Ice
So, what actually happened? On December 22, 2025, the schools dropped a joint bombshell: the rivalry is pausing for 2026 and 2027. Notre Dame filled the void by scheduling BYU. USC? They’re still figuring it out.
If you listen to the talk around the water cooler (or the screaming matches on sports radio), people are pointing fingers everywhere. Some blame USC head coach Lincoln Riley, suggesting he wants an easier path to the College Football Playoff. Others say it’s the "Big Ten effect"—now that USC has a grueling conference schedule, a non-conference game against a perennial powerhouse like Notre Dame feels like a death wish for their record.
The official line is about "scheduling complications." Translation: money and playoff math.
The reality is that in the new 12-team (and soon to be larger) playoff era, a loss is no longer a season-killer, but a brutal schedule can wear a team down to nothing. Notre Dame, as an independent, has their own set of hurdles. They need high-profile wins to secure a spot without a conference title game. USC, meanwhile, is trying to survive the gauntlet of the Big Ten.
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Legendary coach Pete Carroll didn't hold back when he heard the news, saying he had "no space to think of why somebody would want to do that." Even former Trojan great Keyshawn Johnson blasted the move, specifically calling out the current administration. It’s a mess, honestly.
A Look Back: The 2025 Rain-Soaked Battle
Before the pause, we actually got a classic. In October 2025, a 13th-ranked Notre Dame team hosted a 20th-ranked USC in a game that felt like a proper send-off—even if we didn't know it was a "goodbye" at the time.
It rained. A lot. But the weather didn't stop Jeremiyah Love from putting on a clinic. The Irish running back gashed the Trojans for 228 yards. That’s the 18th time a Notre Dame player has hit the 200-yard mark in program history. USC kept it close for a while, but Jadarian Price’s 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter basically sucked the oxygen out of the Trojans' sideline. The Irish walked away with a 34-24 win and kept the Jeweled Shillelagh for another year.
The Trophy Most People Get Wrong
Speaking of the Shillelagh, let’s talk about that trophy. It’s not just a stick. It’s a foot-long Gaelic war club made of blackthorn saplings from Ireland. Legend says the wood is tougher than an Irish skull.
Most people don’t realize there are actually two of them. The original one, started in 1952, ran out of room for the little jeweled ornaments after the 1989 game. It’s now permanently at Notre Dame. The one they play for now—the "second" Shillelagh—was handcrafted in County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1997.
- Ruby-adorned Trojan heads: These represent USC wins.
- Emerald-studded shamrocks: These represent Notre Dame wins.
- The Medallion: For those rare tie games (we don't see those anymore), they use a combined Trojan head and shamrock.
As of right now, the Irish are winning the jewelry race. They lead the all-time series 51-37-5. They’ve also won six of the last seven meetings. If you’re a USC fan, the last few years have been... rough.
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The "Conversation Between Wives" and Other Myths
The origin of USC vs Notre Dame is one of those stories that sounds too good to be true, but mostly is. Back in 1926, USC was looking for a big-time national rival. Legend has it that the wives of Knute Rockne (Notre Dame's coach) and Gwynn Wilson (USC's athletic director) were the ones who sealed the deal.
Marion Wilson apparently told Bonnie Rockne that a trip to sunny Southern California every other year was a whole lot better than a trip to snowy Nebraska. Bonnie liked the idea, talked to Knute, and a rivalry was born.
The first game happened on December 4, 1926. Notre Dame won 13-12. Rockne called it the greatest game he’d ever seen. A year later, they played at Soldier Field in Chicago in front of 120,000 people. That was, at the time, the largest audience in NCAA history. This thing was a hit from day one.
Why This Game Still Matters (Even on Hiatus)
You can't talk about the Heisman Trophy without talking about USC vs Notre Dame. These two schools have combined for 15 Heisman winners. Think about that.
- USC: 8 winners (Caleb Williams being the most recent in 2022).
- Notre Dame: 7 winners (Tim Brown, Paul Hornung, etc.).
This game is often the "Heisman Moment" factory. Remember the "Bush Push" in 2005? Reggie Bush literally pushing Matt Leinart into the end zone to beat the Irish? That game still haunts South Bend. Or what about 1964, when a struggling USC team upset the #1 ranked Irish, ruining their title hopes?
That’s the thing—they play spoiler for each other. Even when one team is having a "down" year, they find a way to make the other team’s life miserable.
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The Big Ten Factor: Is the Rivalry Dead?
There's a lot of fear that USC’s move to the Big Ten is the beginning of the end. When you have to play Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon in the same season, adding Notre Dame feels like masochism.
But history says this pause is just that—a pause. They’ve missed years before. They didn't play from 1943-1945. They missed 2020. Every time, the fans demanded it back. The schools know this is their most valuable brand asset.
There are rumors that the rivalry might return as early as 2030, possibly with a neutral-site game in Las Vegas or a massive streaming deal with someone like Netflix. It’s corporate, sure, but if it gets the Irish and Trojans back on the same field, most fans will take it.
What You Should Do Now
If you're missing the rivalry already, there are a few ways to keep the spirit alive while the teams are on their two-year break:
- Watch the Vault: Go back and watch the 1974 "Comeback" (Anthony Davis scoring 6 TDs) or the 2005 "Bush Push." They are mandatory viewing for any real fan.
- Track the 2026 Schedules: Keep an eye on who USC finally picks to fill that late-November slot. If they schedule a "cupcake" team, expect the criticism of Lincoln Riley to reach a fever pitch.
- Support the Traditions: The Jeweled Shillelagh is currently sitting in South Bend. Until the teams meet again, that's where it stays.
- Voice Your Opinion: Athletic directors actually listen to alumni and season ticket holders. If you want the game back by 2028, let them know.
The USC vs Notre Dame rivalry isn't just a game; it's a piece of American sports history. It’s survived world wars and global pandemics. A little scheduling drama in the age of NIL and conference realignment might slow it down, but you can't kill a century of bad blood that easily.
We’ll see them again. Hopefully sooner than later.