Notre Dame, USC to resume rivalry in 2030 with early-season schedule

Notre Dame and USC have agreed to a four-game football series beginning in 2030, with both teams playing in Week 1 of the opening season, according to ESPN reporting. The agreement ends a years-long scheduling standoff between two programs separated by conference realignment and conflicting calendar priorities.

The rivalry, which began in 1926, has been played 95 times despite a three-year break during World War II and a one-year stoppage in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent matchup saw Notre Dame defeat USC 34-24 last season at Notre Dame. After that game, the future of the series remained uncertain, with both programs previously unable to reach a deal to continue.

The four-game series will feature back-to-back season openers starting in 2030. The first matchup will be Week 1 in Los Angeles. The second matchup, in 2031, will be in South Bend and slated for the opening week as well. The subsequent two meetings between the two teams will be played within the first three weeks of the season, according to the announced schedule.

USC joined the 18-team Big Ten Conference, a move that complicated scheduling. The Trojans' previous position was that playing Notre Dame late in the season affected their chances of making the College Football Playoff. USC athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement: "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. 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."

USC head coach Lincoln Riley indicated that moving the game earlier in the schedule was an important part of brokering the deal for the Trojans. "We're part of a conference," Riley said, per ESPN. "You know, we have a conference schedule to answer them to. We don't choose our own kickoff times. I just wanted it to make sense for our team in terms of playing the rest of the Big Ten and Big Ten team travel. And again, we just don't have the same flexibility in our schedule." Riley also stated: "Our desire to play this game, this game's part of our history, our college football history, has never been questioned, never will. I think this benefits everyone. You know, I guess it benefits USC. I think it benefits Notre Dame. I think this benefits college football."

The schools announced the agreement on Monday. The sources do not include explicit statements from Notre Dame leadership on the agreement.