USC-Notre Dame college football rivalry coming to a close

The longstanding college football rivalry series between USC and Notre Dame will end next season, according to reports.

The two schools have not reached an agreement to extend the series, which featured its 96th annual game this season. Senior college football reporter Ross Dellenger was the first to report.

Reports also speculate that USC athletic director Jen Cohen and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua will work to restart the series in 2030.

The Fighting Irish announced on Monday in a press release that the program has scheduled a home-and-home series with BYU, this season’s Big 12 Conference runner-up. Specific dates have not been announced, but the games will complete Notre Dame’s schedule for the next two seasons.

Both teams missed out on a bid to this year’s College Football Playoff. The Irish opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, in which they would have faced BYU. The Cougars will now play Georgia Tech in the bowl game on Dec. 27. USC will play TCU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.

USC has two non-conference opponents scheduled for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. In 2026, the Trojans will play Fresno State and Louisiana at the Coliseum. The following season, they’ll host UNLV and Nevada.

Notre Dame leads the rivalry series against USC 53-37-5 all-time after its most recent win this October.

Head coach Lincoln Riley as well as Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman have expressed interest in extending the rivalry.

“It’s a phenomenal rivalry,” Riley told reporters two days before this season’s game. “It’s one of the best parts of being involved in college football is these different, unique games.

“If you love the game, you have a real appreciation for the history of it and what it means to get the opportunity to be a part of these.”