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USC & Notre Dame: Rivalry Break After 78 Seasons
22 Dec
Summary
- USC and Notre Dame will not play in 2026.
- The rivalry series dates back to 1926.
- The earliest they could play again is 2030.
The storied college football rivalry between USC and Notre Dame will be put on hold starting in 2026. Following extensive negotiations that failed to yield an agreement, the two universities will not continue their series as planned.
This interruption marks a significant pause in a tradition that began in 1926, having only been previously suspended during World War II. The teams had played consecutively for 78 seasons, with the exception of the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
USC is now reportedly seeking a new nonconference opponent for its 2026 schedule. Discussions suggest the earliest the Trojans and Fighting Irish could potentially face each other again is during the 2030 season, leaving fans to await the renewal of this historic contest.
