The historic college football rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans is set to resume in 2030, following an agreement that accommodates USC's scheduling needs within the Big Ten Conference. The renewed series will feature games played early in the season, a key point of contention that had previously led to the rivalry's cancellation.
Notre Dame, which previously resisted moving the game earlier in the calendar, has now agreed to play the rivalry contest at the beginning of the season. USC Athletic Director Jen Cohen stated that playing the game early is important for competitive scheduling with Big Ten peers and considers the well-being of student-athletes. The initial agreement covers games through 2033, with matchups scheduled for Week 1 in 2030 and 2031, and within the first three weeks for the subsequent two years.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley emphasized the logistical considerations of being part of a Power Four conference. "We have a conference schedule to answer them to. We don't choose our own kickoff times," Riley said, explaining the necessity of an early-season game to manage the demands of the Big Ten schedule and travel.
The debate over scheduling highlighted the perceived disparity in how much each program needs the rivalry. Notre Dame, as an independent program with a less demanding schedule compared to teams in the SEC or Big Ten, benefits from playing marquee non-conference games like USC to bolster its resume for the College Football Playoff. USC, conversely, faces a gauntlet of conference games against opponents such as Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State in 2026, making early-season non-conference scheduling a critical factor for team management and preparation.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had previously expressed a willingness to play the USC game at any point in the season, stating, "I want to play them every single year. When? I don’t care... I want to play USC every year because it’s great for college football." The eventual agreement, however, reflects USC's scheduling priorities.
The return of the Notre Dame-USC game is seen as a positive development for college football, bringing back one of its most anticipated non-conference matchups. The agreement ensures that fans will once again witness this storied rivalry, with the initial games scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2030 and in South Bend in 2031.