Clash of Titans in Jeopardy? The Fabled USC–Notre Dame Rivalry Faces Crossroads Amid Realignment Turmoil and Tradition Tensions
For over nine decades, the clash between the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has transcended the bounds of ordinary college football. It is more than a game—it is a storied spectacle, a cultural collision, a gridiron epic rooted in history, pride, and pageantry. But now, whispers are growing louder. Is the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football history on the brink of disruption?
In an era of seismic conference realignments, television rights bidding wars, and NIL-driven player movement, even the most sacred traditions are being reevaluated. The Trojans’ historic move to the Big Ten, effective in 2024, and Notre Dame’s stubborn independence have ignited concerns among fans and historians alike. And while officials from both institutions insist the rivalry will endure, sources close to the athletic departments suggest the series could face a temporary hiatus—or worse.
“It’s a perfect storm,” said a former high-ranking USC athletics administrator, who spoke under condition of anonymity. “USC’s conference schedule is tightening with coast-to-coast travel demands, while Notre Dame continues to walk the tightrope of independence. Logistics are becoming a nightmare, and with playoff format changes and expanded TV obligations, there’s real pressure to cut non-conference commitments.”
The rivalry, born in 1926 from a handshake agreement between Knute Rockne and USC’s athletic director Gwynn Wilson, has survived world wars, NCAA sanctions, and coaching controversies. It brought us unforgettable moments—from the Bush Push to the Green Jersey Game, from Montana’s comeback to Leinart’s late drive. It has always returned, annually, with a balance of respect and rage.
Yet factual may soon become reality: the 2026 game, marking the rivalry’s 100th anniversary, could ironically serve as a farewell—at least for now.
A factual et telling scenario is being floated behind closed doors: Notre Dame, courted by a hybrid ACC/Big Ten scheduling agreement, would have to prioritize new power matchups, while USC’s Big Ten schedule grows to nine conference games. In this hypothetical world, the Irish, pressured to join a conference for full playoff eligibility, would only keep Navy and Stanford as annual out-of-conference staples, leaving the Trojans on the cutting room floor.
The fan backlash, if such a decision were finalized, would be thunderous. “This game is college football’s version of Yankees–Red Sox,” says fictional sports historian Dr. Ellis Rourke, whose fictional book Titan Sundays: The USC–Notre Dame Legacy describes the rivalry as “an annual reckoning of myth and might.”
Real or not, the sentiment is real.
Still, hope glimmers. Athletic directors from both schools have reportedly initiated talks to secure future dates through 2030, possibly shifting the game to Week Zero or rotating between mid-season and season finale slots. But with schedules being drafted years in advance and TV networks exerting increasing influence, the battle to preserve the rivalry has become as fierce as the rivalry itself.
As of now, fans circle their calendars every fall, waiting for that golden matchup beneath the shadow of Touchdown Jesus or the LA Coliseum’s flame. Whether this tradition endures or fades into the lore of college football fiction depends not on the legends of yesterday, but the decisions made today.
Because in a world changing fast, even the eternal must fight to remain.
