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The 2026 college football schedule looks a little different than in years past.
For the first time since the rivalry began in 1926, barring breaks due to World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, USC and Notre Dame will not play each other next year, or potentially soon.
There have been a total of 96 meetings between the two schools, which have managed to schedule a game every year despite Notre Dame not being in a conference.
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Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll hoists the trophy with quarterback Matt Leinart (left) after a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl held at Pro Player Stadium. The Trojans won the BCS National Championship with the win. (Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)
However, USC is said to have wanted to play the game earlier in the season – it has typically been played during either rivalry week in Los Angeles or mid-October in South Bend.
The reaction has been strong, but Matt Leinart defended his school.
“Call me lame, but I will trust a school that has produced more Heisman winners than any other in history and 11 national championships to do the right thing for the program,” Leinart wrote on X Christmas Eve. “Texas and A&M played forever and then they didn’t. Same with Utah and BYU. It was a bummer, but the world didn’t end. We hope this is a short break like them.”
Leinart’s head coach at the time, Pete Carroll, parted ways with his former quarterback.
“I don’t have room to think why anyone would do that,” Carroll said Monday. “I hope it doesn’t carry over to other matchups that have been so important to people over the years and so much fun, not so much the teams. It’s for the fans and for the alumni. It’s too bad. I’m disappointed to hear that.”
Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll celebrates with quarterback Matt Leinart after the Trojans defeated the Washington Huskies 51-24 at Husky Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
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The Fighting Irish announced Monday that they filled their final opening date of 2026 with a game against BYU. Notre Dame and USC officials say they recognize the importance of the rivalry and are working to bring it back, but it likely won’t be until the new decade.
“USC and Notre Dame recognize how special our rivalry is to our fans, our teams and college football, and our institutions will continue to work to bring back the battle for the jeweled Shillelagh,” Notre Dame and USC officials said in a joint statement. “The rivalry between our two schools is one of the best in all of sports and we look forward to meeting in the future.”
Notre Dame and USC first played in 1926, and the Irish lead the series between the two traditional powers 53-38-5. The Irish have won each of the last three meetings, winning this year in Indiana 34-24.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiah Love runs the ball against Southern California Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey during the game between the Southern California Trojans Southern California Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 18, 2025 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Negotiations became more challenging when USC joined the Big Ten last season because the Trojans prefer to play non-conference games in August or September. The two schools, which have combined for 22 national championships and produced 15 Heisman Trophy winners, have traditionally met in October or November.
