A compromise proposal for USC and Notre Dame in rivalry negotiations

TL;DR

USC and Notre Dame are negotiating to resume their historic football rivalry after failing to agree for the 2026 season. A compromise proposal suggests moving the game to the start of the season in South Bend while keeping the traditional late November slot in Los Angeles.

Key points

USC and Notre Dame are negotiating to resume their football rivalry
They failed to agree on a schedule for the 2026 season
Notre Dame prefers mid-October matchups, while USC wants earlier games
A compromise proposal suggests different scheduling based on location
The rivalry has been played nearly every season for the past century

On Monday, we got a report from Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times that USC and Notre Dame are in discussions to resume their stories football rivalry. After playing each other nearly every season for the past century, the two schools could not reach an agreement for the 2026 season, and will not face off this fall.

One of the points of contention for the two schools during negotiations the first time around was reportedly scheduling. The Irish preferred that the matchup remain when it has been played for more than 60 years now—mid-October in South Bend in odd years, and late November in Los Angeles in even years. USC, on the other hand, wanted to move the game to earlier in the season, when the majority of nonconference matchups take place.

My proposal

With the two sides now back at the negotiating table, I am hereby proposing a compromise. The matchup can move to the start of the season when it is played in South Bend, but remain in its traditional rivalry weekend slot in years that it is in Los Angeles.

How USC benefits

I think that this should be a reasonable compromise that both sides can agree to. The Trojans get to avoid having to travel to Notre Dame during the middle of the Big Ten schedule, which was their biggest issue with the previous arrangement. In addition, USC once again gets to close the season with a home rivalry game at the Coliseum every season—Notre Dame in even years, and UCLA in odd years.

How Notre Dame benefits

The Irish, meanwhile, get to resume traveling to California for Thanksgiving every season (Notre Dame ends the regular season at Stanford in odd years). Not only is this valuable to their West Coast fan base, but it also accomplishes the important task of getting the team and fans out of South Bend, Indiana during late November, when the weather there is not particularly pleasant.

Good for fans

Another big winner from this would be fans—both fans of the two schools and college football fans across the country. In even years, USC-Notre Dame would continue to be one of the premier games of the sport’s traditional rivalry weekend. In odd years, it would be a marquee September nonconference showdown that would set the tone for the season.

Q&A

What is the current status of the USC and Notre Dame football rivalry negotiations?

USC and Notre Dame are currently in discussions to resume their football rivalry after not reaching an agreement for the 2026 season.

Why did USC and Notre Dame fail to agree on a schedule for their rivalry?

The schools could not agree on scheduling, with Notre Dame wanting to keep the traditional mid-October date and USC proposing to move the game earlier in the season.

What is the proposed compromise for the USC and Notre Dame rivalry game?

The proposal suggests moving the game to the start of the season when played in South Bend, while maintaining the traditional late November slot in Los Angeles.

When was the last time USC and Notre Dame faced each other?

USC and Notre Dame did not face each other this fall, marking a break in their nearly century-long rivalry.