USC and Notre Dame to renew one of college football's greatest rivalries beginning in 2030

One of the greatest rivalries in college football is coming back.

On Monday, Notre Dame and USC announced that they will resume their annual rivalry game beginning with the 2030 season. The two schools will play in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, 2030, and the series will then shift to South Bend for Week 1 of the 2031 season.

Games in the 2032 and 2033 seasons will also be played as part of the rivalry’s renewal, but dates haven’t been determined yet. They will, however, be played within the first three weeks of those respective seasons.

It’s great news for college football as a whole — and especially for those who care about the historic rivalry that dates back to 1926. The game had been played every season since (except during World War II and the 2020 pandemic) until now. Negotiations between the schools regarding a series extension broke down in December, prompting the official announcement of the series hiatus.

But even when talks faltered, both sides reiterated the importance of the rivalry and committed to working toward its eventual return. And, ultimately, USC got its wish with the game moving to the early part of the season.

Indiana’s intention to cancel its home-and-home series with Notre Dame (scheduled for 2030 and 2031) also helped pave the way for the return of the Notre Dame-USC game, a source told NBC Sports. The Athletic first reported the cancelation of the scheduled series between the Irish and Hoosiers.

“USC’s historic rivalry with Notre Dame holds a special place in the history of college football, and we are happy to resume a series that means so much to the entire Trojan Family,” USC athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement. “It remains important for us to play this game early in the season, as it allows us to schedule competitively with our Big Ten peers and takes into account the health and best interests of our student-athletes and program.

“We are excited for our fans, and we look forward to more memorable matchups and unforgettable games between the Trojans and the Irish.”

The two schools have met 96 times since 1926, with the Irish holding a 53-38-5 all-time edge. The two programs have combined for more national championships, Heisman Trophy winners and NFL draft selections than any other pair of rivals in the sport.

The game is undoubtedly important to both programs — as evidenced by the outcry from alumni when news of the initial hiatus broke — but it’s also incredibly essential to college football. Typically, the game is one of the biggest of the season, and it has had a major impact on the College Football Playoff in recent years as well.

Over the past couple of decades, the sport has lost a number of its best and most heated rivalry games due to conference realignment. Some, like the Backyard Brawl and the Border War, eventually came back as nonconference games. But as college football undergoes transformational change at a rapid pace, it’s never certain that the sport will retain what it makes it unique. Preserving — and prioritizing — regional and national rivalries is crucial.

Thankfully in this case, Notre Dame and USC did just that. And college football is better for it.