The annual rivalry game between Notre Dame and USC takes on added significance this season. As things stand right now, the Fighting Irish and Trojans are not slated to play in 2026, with Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde reporting that USC has offered a short-term extension to the series (in Los Angeles) while Notre Dame wants to ink a long-term deal. The 2020 COVID-19-impacted season aside, next year would mark the first time that the two sides haven't met on the gridiron since World War II. Prior to 1943, they had played every season since the series began in 1926.
Worries about the future of one of college football's greatest rivalries provide a backdrop to a game that has plenty of on-field intrigue as well. Notre Dame has rebounded from its 0–2 start against two of college football's best teams, and has looked like an absolute buzzsaw in the month since their one-point loss to Texas A&M. USC's season looked like it was heading in the disappointing direction that so many recent Trojans campaigns have when they lost by two at Illinois... and they turned around to dominate Michigan in all facets last week.
