The Notre Dame-USC rivalry, one of college football’s most storied traditions since 1926, faces an uncertain future as Notre Dame announced a 12-year regular-season series with Clemson from 2027 to 2038 on May 7, 2025, per the university’s press release. The final scheduled Notre Dame-USC game in 2026 coincides with the 100th anniversary of their first meeting, raising fears the rivalry could be paused or ended. USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen, speaking to The Athletic in February 2025, hinted at reevaluating the series due to the Trojans’ Big Ten travel demands and competitive priorities. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s shift toward Clemson, an ACC powerhouse, reflects strategic scheduling to boost College Football Playoff (CFP) chances, despite the Irish’s 52-38-5 series lead over USC and six wins in the last seven meetings. Let’s explore the rivalry’s potential demise, the Notre Dame-Clemson deal, and what it means for both programs.
The Notre Dame-USC rivalry, uninterrupted since 1945 except for the COVID-altered 2020 season, is a cornerstone of college football, with 95 games steeped in history—Knute Rockne vs. Howard Jones, the 1977 “Green Jersey Game,” and Anthony Davis’ 1974 comeback. Notre Dame’s dominance (97-55 combined score in 2023-24) and 30-15-3 record since 1983 underscore their edge, per ESPN’s game logs. Cohen’s comments highlight USC’s strain in the expanded Big Ten, where cross-country trips to Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State tax players. “We’re now playing in a conference where we fly back and forth across the country every other week,” she told The Athletic, questioning the wisdom of an annual out-of-conference game against Notre Dame, especially after USC’s Pac-12 exit in 2024. Her focus on “what’s best for our student-athletes” suggests prioritizing recovery over tradition, particularly with USC’s 8-4 record in 2024 and no CFP appearances since the 12-team format began.
Notre Dame’s new Clemson series, starting in 2027, fills a scheduling gap and aligns with CFP goals. The Irish, independent but tied to the ACC for five annual games, face a 2025 slate including Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Florida State, ranked 10th in strength of schedule (SOS), per ESPN’s FPI. Clemson, with a 10-3 record and CFP berth in 2024, offers a high-value opponent. Their eight prior meetings (Notre Dame leads 4-4), including a 2020 double-overtime thriller and Clemson’s 2018 CFP rout, lack USC’s history but carry weight—six games since 2015, with Notre Dame going 2-4. The Tigers’ 70.8% win rate since 2015 and four CFP appearances dwarf USC’s 51.2% and zero, per Sports-Reference. Notre Dame’s 2024 season (11-2, CFP quarterfinal loss to Ohio State) and 2025 projection (9-3, per FPI) benefit more from Clemson’s SOS boost, especially with the CFP committee emphasizing quality losses over weaker wins.
USC’s case for pausing the rivalry is practical. Their 2024 season, ending with a Holiday Bowl loss to Washington State, exposed offensive line woes (27.1% pressure rate allowed, 22nd) and a 4-4 Big Ten record, per PFF. Coach Lincoln Riley’s 19-18 record since 2022 and two losing seasons (2022, 2024) contrast with Notre Dame’s 20-6 under Marcus Freeman. The Trojans’ travel—averaging 2,100 miles per road game in 2025, per ESPN—clashes with a Notre Dame trip (2,800 miles to South Bend or L.A.). Cohen’s “ongoing conversations” with Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua suggest flexibility, but USC’s 38-52-5 series deficit and 28-point average loss margin since 2018 make the game less appealing. A 2025 USC schedule with Michigan, Penn State, and LSU already tests their 7-5 projection.
Notre Dame’s pivot to Clemson isn’t just about SOS. The Irish’s $15 million NIL collective, per On3, and $1.9 billion brand value, per Forbes, demand CFP contention, and Clemson’s 85.7% home win rate at Death Valley since 2015 ensures a marquee matchup. Notre Dame’s 2026 USC game, set for November 28, could be the rivalry’s last unless renewed, as the Clemson deal (six home, six away) locks in a premium slot. Bevacqua, in a May 7 statement, called Clemson “a natural fit” for Notre Dame’s national brand, citing shared academic values and competitive history. The Irish’s 65.5% win rate against USC since 1926 and 2024’s 49-28 rout show they don’t need the rivalry for prestige, but losing it risks fan backlash—Notre Dame’s 8.1 million social followers rank 5th, per HypeAuditor.
The rivalry’s end isn’t certain. Cohen’s “evaluate what’s best” leaves room for a reduced series, perhaps biennial or neutral-site games, like Notre Dame’s 2024 Dublin clash with Navy. USC’s $10 million NIL budget and Riley’s 7.8 yards per play offense (6th in 2024) could push for a CFP run, making Notre Dame a valuable foe if travel eases. Notre Dame’s 2027-38 Clemson commitment, with no USC games scheduled post-2026, suggests a pause, not a funeral—rivalries like Texas-Texas A&M have resumed after hiatuses. Still, the Irish’s 2-4 record vs. Clemson since 2015, including a 38-3 2018 CFP loss, makes the Tigers a riskier bet than USC’s 2-5 skid.
For Notre Dame, swapping USC for Clemson trades tradition for ambition. Their 11-2 2024 season, with QB Riley Leonard’s 2,314 yards and 15 TDs, sets a CFP baseline, but a 2025 SOS boost from Clemson could secure a top-12 seed even at 9-3. USC, at 8-4 with QB Miller Moss’s 3,012 yards, needs Big Ten wins over Purdue and Iowa to hit 9-3, per FPI, and may prioritize conference foes. The rivalry’s 100th year looms as a potential farewell, but college football’s shifting landscape—NIL, portal, and 12-team CFP—favors pragmatism over nostalgia. Notre Dame’s betting on Clemson to climb the CFP ladder, while USC eyes Big Ten glory. Fans may mourn, but the Irish-Trojans saga might just be on hold—not over.
