USC and Notre Dame are set to renew their historic football rivalry starting in 2030. The schools announced a four-game series that will bring the two programs back together after a planned break. This agreement follows recent uncertainty about the future of the matchup as USC adjusted to its new conference schedule in the Big Ten.
The series structure introduces a change to tradition. While the game was frequently played late in the season, the new agreement places these matchups at the start of the schedule. The 2030 and 2031 games are set for the opening week of the season. The remaining two games of the four-game contract will take place within the first three weeks.
USC Athletic Director Jen Cohen noted that the scheduling shift is necessary to allow the program to compete within the Big Ten conference while protecting the health of the players. Keeping the rivalry game early helps manage travel and recovery demands throughout the rest of the season.
Head coach Lincoln Riley emphasized that the game remains a significant part of college football history. He noted that the new structure balances the desire to maintain the tradition with the practical needs of operating a competitive program in the current conference landscape. The series will resume in Los Angeles for the first game before moving to South Bend for the second.