The end of an era: USC vs. Notre Dame rivalry nears final chapter

With USC’s Big Ten schedule and Notre Dame remaining an independent, the long-standing annual bout between these two programs is being shelved — just shy of its 100th anniversary.

This isn’t just any rivalry. It’s one of college football’s most passionate and bitter matchups. The disdain between the two fanbases is as fierce as any in sports. From iconic Heisman winners to national championship implications, USC-Notre Dame games have delivered decade after decade.

Despite USC’s dominant stretch in the early 2000s, where the Trojans rattled off eight straight wins, Notre Dame has historically had the upper hand. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 50-37-5 entering Saturday’s contest.

Timing has always played a role in the drama

When USC hosts, the game typically comes at the end of the season, often with postseason hopes hanging in the balance. In South Bend, it’s a mid-October showdown — and this year, it’s a defining one.

Both teams enter ranked, both have dreams of the College Football Playoff, and both know what’s at stake. For Notre Dame, a loss spells the end of their CFP hopes. For USC, the margin for error is slightly larger, but a defeat could derail their postseason aspirations all the same.

The magnitude of this game runs deeper than rankings. It’s cultural. It’s personal. Just ask Notre Dame legend Mike Golic Sr., who told Dan Patrick this week that he told his kids they could go to any college — just not USC. That’s the kind of passion this rivalry inspires.

Saturday’s prime-time matchup promises to be emotional, high-stakes, and unforgettable. If this is truly the end of the line for USC and Notre Dame — at least for now — it’s only fitting that it ends under the bright lights with everything on the line.

Will one final iconic moment be added to the rivalry’s rich history? We’re about to find out.