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Marcus Freeman Makes Feelings Clear About USC-Notre Dame Rivalry Amid Ongoing Debate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 2:57 PM ET

The future of one of college football's most storied rivalries is up in the air.

The USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are not scheduled to play each other beyond the 2025 NCAA football season. That means this coming matchup could be the 96th and final meeting between two programs that have combined to win 16 national championships since the birth of the AP Poll in 1936.

The revelation has prompted strong feelings and opinions over the past month, as the schools work toward a post-2025 solution to continue the rivalry.

While USC head coach Lincoln Riley has been non-committal about facing the Fighting Irish each year, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman last month made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to continue the tradition. Freeman reiterated this stance in a recent appearance on "The Joel Klatt Show."

Big Noon Conversations is BACK.@joelklatt kicks off with @NDFootball head coach Marcus Freeman in an all new episode, OUT NOW. pic.twitter.com/Uukt6hlhsv
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) June 16, 2025

"Before I ever got to Notre Dame, there's memories I have in my head of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry, and I think it's important to continue that rivalry," Freeman said. "And so if they ask my opinion, I want to continuously play USC every year."

Though Notre Dame and the Clemson Tigers recently reached a 12-year agreement to play each other each season beginning in 2027, the Irish do not believe such an agreement would impede the extension of their rivalry with the Trojans.

But as it stands, the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh will be played out one final time in 2025 amid Riley's reluctance to keep it going.

"It takes both parties to tango, and it's got to fit both institutions," Freeman said. "They're in a conference, and we're not, when do we play, all those different things. But I think it's important that we continue to have this rivalry."

Notre Dame is set to host USC at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in what could be the final meeting between the legendary programs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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