Notre Dame-USC rivalry game discussions back on after college football series ended in 2026

USC’s last scheduled game vs. Notre Dame is this Saturday, and Colin Cowherd asks if the Trojans should extend their rivalry with the non-conference team.

One of the biggest stories of the 2025-2026 college football offseason was the collapse of the historic USC Trojans-Notre Dame Fighting Irish rivalry. 

Long hailed as the "Greatest Intersectional Rivalry in College Football," the game paired two of the sport’s most storied teams. Played every season since 1926, outside World War II and the COVID lockdown years, both fanbases loved the annual tradition and opportunity to travel to historic stadiums in LA and South Bend.

Which is why the reaction to news that the series was ending, even if temporarily, was overwhelmingly one of frustration and disappointment. From both sides. 

Who to blame for the end of the series mostly depends on allegiance. Much of the disagreement between the two sides came down to timing. USC fans point to comments made by Irish head coach Marcus Freeman in 2025 about the rivalry and his commitment to it.

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"It’s pretty black and white for me," Freeman said at the time. "You want my opinion? I want to play them every single year. When? I don’t care. I don’t care when we play them. Start of the season, middle of the season, end of the season — I don’t care. I want to play USC every year because it’s great for college football."

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman adjusts his radio on the sideline during the game against Boise State at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 4, 2025. (Michael Caterina/Imagn Images)

Those comments resurfaced when the series was cancelled in large part because Notre Dame didn’t want to move