Notre Dame-USC series to return in 2030 after rare hiatus for storied college football rivalry
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Notre Dame and USC have agreed to resume their historic football rivalry with a four-year series starting in Week 1 of the 2030 season, ending a multiyear hiatus and negotiation stalemate.
- The series will begin on August 31, 2030, in Los Angeles, with Notre Dame hosting the following year on August 30, 2031, accommodating USC’s preference for early-season games.
- The return was facilitated partly by Indiana canceling its home-and-home series with Notre Dame in 2030 and 2031, allowing scheduling flexibility for the Irish.
- The rivalry, dating back to 1926, had been played nearly every year except for brief breaks during WWII and the 2020 pandemic, but negotiations faltered due to scheduling conflicts and USC’s concerns about competing in the College Football Playoff landscape.
- Both schools expressed relief and optimism about the series’ return, emphasizing its significance to college football history and their programs, ending years of public tension and uncertainty.
