Overview
- USC and Notre Dame will not play in 2026 or 2027, and both schools issued a joint statement saying they hope to bring the series back in the future.
- Riley said USC’s final offer would have moved the next two matchups to the start of the season, which he argued Notre Dame had previously indicated it would accept by agreeing to play “anytime, anywhere.”
- Notre Dame announced a home-and-home with BYU to fill its 2026–27 openings shortly after talks with USC ended, while USC continues to seek replacement opponents.
- The dispute centers on timing: USC pushed for Week Zero or early-season dates given Big Ten scheduling and College Football Playoff considerations, whereas Notre Dame preferred later-season slots.
- Reporting from the Los Angeles Times and others indicates USC hardened its stance after learning of Notre Dame’s CFP memorandum of understanding, and separate reports say USC’s neutral-site streaming idea faced resistance from Big Ten and media partners.