Notre Dame caves, lives up to Marcus Freeman’s promise as USC rivalry game is officially back
Notre Dame and USC have resolved a scheduling dispute that threatened one of college football's oldest rivalries, with Notre Dame reportedly agreeing to USC's terms to keep the annual fixture alive. The game, often billed as the "Greatest Intersectional Rivalry", was due to move back to Los Angeles in 2026 after being played in South Bend in 2025, but disagreement over timing had put its future in doubt. The resolution matters because it preserves a fixture with a long history between the two storied programmes, and fulfils a public assurance from Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman that the series would continue.
The dispute centred on when the match should be played each season, with USC pushing to move the fixture earlier in the calendar rather than keep it in its traditional late-season slot. According to the report, Notre Dame ultimately yielded to USC's preferred scheduling, allowing the 2026 game in Los Angeles to go ahead as planned. The article, published on Fox News's OutKick sports section, does not specify the exact new date agreed for the fixture.
- Notre Dame and USC settle a scheduling row over their rivalry game.
- Notre Dame reportedly agreed to USC's preferred timing.
- The fixture keeps its Los Angeles return planned for 2026.