College football Week 8 straight-up picks
Before The Snap’s Week 8 picks include Ole Miss-Georgia, Utah-BYU, USC-Notre Dame and more.
One of college football’s great rivalries could be coming to an end Saturday.
Southern California and Notre Dame will meet their annual showdown — taking place in South Bend during Week 8 — but for now, it could be the last time the two iconic programs meet on the gridiron as the future of their rivalry is in doubt.
Although both schools have expressed interest in keeping the longstanding game going, it’s unknown whether it will actually happen or not. If it doesn’t work out, it could result in another iconic rivalry going extinct in the modern college football world.
So what’s going on with the future of Notre Dame vs. USC? Here’s what is known:
When is next Notre Dame vs USC game?
The 2025 meeting of the Trojans and Fighting Irish will be the 96th meeting in rivalry history. However, there are no future games scheduled between Notre Dame and USC beyond 2025.
The two teams have met every year since 1926 with the exception of 1943-45 due to World War II and 2020 due to COVID-19.
Why could Notre Dame vs USC rivalry end?
The two sides have not extended the series into 2026 or later, as they have differing opinions on how to keep it going. According to a Sports Illustrated report in May, Notre Dame wants a long-term deal for the series while USC wants to evaluate it on a year-by-year basis as it weighs the future College Football Playoff format and the strength of the Big Ten.
The timing of the rivalry has also been a point. The game takes place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years and when in Los Angeles, in November on even years. There is belief USC wants the game to take place before Big Ten play, thus moving it to September.
Despite the differing approaches, Notre Dame and USC have shown interest in preserving the rivalry.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Oct. 13 Netflix reached out to USC about the possibility to air the game in 2026 to keep it going. However, that could be an issue with both programs’ broadcast contracts, making it difficult for Netflix to continue the series.
What have USC, Notre Dame said about rivalry?
The coaches of each team don’t have a definitive say in if the series continues, but Marcus Freeman and Lincoln Riley have expressed their support for it.
During Big Ten media days in July, Riley said the future depended on the evolution of the playoff format, but he “absolutely” wants it to be played because “it’s one of the reasons I came here.” He reiterated his comments on Oct. 16.
“I love it. I hope it continues, and hopefully we can find a find a way to get that done where it makes sense for both sides and not just one,” Riley said. “I hope I’m head coach at USC for a long time, and I hope every single year we’re playing this.”
Freeman stressed on Oct. 13 the importance of the rivalry’s place in college football, and he feels good about the game continuing past 2025.
“I know our leadership administration and the their leadership administration are talking to try to find a way to extend this, this rivalry, and so I’m confident it will be extended,” Freeman said. “I think the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC is a great rivalry, one of the best, and I think it’s great for college football.”
Will Notre Dame-USC play in future?
It’s unclear.
Nonconference games are typically scheduled several years in advance, and USC and Notre Dame have had yearslong contracts for decades to ensure the game will be played. There is a chance the two sides can come up with a deal to make sure they at least play in 2026, but the odds don’t look too promising as of mid-October, and any contest beyond that seems more unlikely.
Notre Dame owns a 50–37–5 advantage in the series heading into the 2025 meeting.
