USC legends react to storied Notre Dame rivalry going on indefinite hiatus

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.

The 2026 college football schedule looks a little bit different than in years past.

For the first time since the rivalry began in 1926, except for hiatuses due to World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, USC and Notre Dame will not play each other next year, or potentially any time soon.

There have been 96 total meetings between the two schools, which have managed to schedule a game every year despite Notre Dame not being in a conference.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll hoist the trophy with quarterback Matt Leinart (left) after a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl held at Pro Player Stadium. The Trojans won the BCS National Championship with the win.  (Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

However, USC is said to have wanted to play the game earlier in the season — it has typically been played during either rivalry week in Los Angeles or mid-October in South Bend.

The reaction has been strong, but Matt Leinart defended his school. 

"Call me lame but I'm going to trust a school that's produced more Heisman winners than anyone else in history and 11 National Championships to do what's right for the program," Leinart posted on X Christmas Eve. "Texas and A&M played forever and then they didn't. Same with Utah and BYU. It was a bummer but the world didn't end. Here's hoping this is a momentary pause just like those."

Leinart's head coach at the time, Pete Carroll, differed from his former quarterback.

"I have no space to think of why somebody would want to do that," Carroll said Monday. "I hope that doesn’t carry over to other matchups that have