In a move that left fans stunned, Notre Dame announced Monday that its last 2026 opening slot will be filled by a trip to BYU, effectively putting its historic rivalry with USC on hold.
The Pause in the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh
Notre Dame’s decision to schedule BYU for 2026 means the Fighting Irish will not face the Trojans in that season. The two schools, which left out of this year’s College Football Playoff, will play again in 2027, but Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule now contains only nine games, raising questions about when the USC matchup could return.
Official Statements and Historical Context
In a joint statement, Notre Dame and USC officials said, “USC and Notre Dame recognize how special our rivalry is to our fans, our teams and college football and our institutions will continue working to bring back the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh. The rivalry between our two schools is one of the best in all of sport and we look forward to meeting in the future.”
The rivalry began in 1926 and the Irish lead the series 53-38-5. It was paused from 1943-45 during World War II and again in 2020 when the pandemic forced most schools to play conference-only schedules.
Coaching Voices and Future Outlook
Irish coach Marcus Freeman has repeatedly stated that the rivalry should continue. In mid-October, he said, “It’s very clear, let’s continue this thing and that’s it. They handle the rest of it. (Athletic director) Pete Bevacqua and (deputy athletic director for football) Ron Powlus and our leadership, they’ll handle the discussions with them. But they know the head coach of this football program desires to continue this rivalry.”
Other Rivalries and Scheduling Challenges
Notre Dame has also paused other long-running matchups. The team has not played Michigan since 2008 or Michigan State since 2017, and the annual series with Purdue ended in 2014, though they met again in 2021 and the two previous seasons.
Negotiations became more difficult when USC joined the Big Ten last season. The Trojans prefer non-conference games in August or September, whereas the traditional rivalry dates were in October or November.
Pete Carroll’s Reaction
On Monday, former USC coach and current Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll expressed disappointment. “I have no space to think of why somebody would want to do that,” Carroll said. “I hope that doesn’t carry over to other matchups that have been so important to people over the years and so much fun, not so much the teams. It’s for the fans and for the alumni. That’s too bad. I’m disappointed to hear that.”
Key Takeaways
- Notre Dame fills its 2026 opening with BYU, pausing the USC game.
- A joint statement promises the rivalry will return in the future.
- The Irish lead the series 53-38-5; the rivalry has been paused twice before.
- Coach Marcus Freeman and school leaders want the rivalry to continue.
- USC’s move to the Big Ten has created scheduling differences.
- Former USC coach Pete Carroll voiced disappointment at the pause.
The pause in the Notre Dame-USC rivalry highlights the complexities of modern college football scheduling and the enduring importance of historic matchups to fans and institutions alike.
