New report suggests USC-Notre Dame football rivalry is in danger of ending
New report suggests USC-Notre Dame football rivalry is in danger of ending There is legitimate reason to worry about the future of the USC-Notre Dame football series, and the Trojans are the ones unsure of whether they want this rivalry to continue.
It is certainly a tense time at USC football, particularly regarding the future of the USC-Notre Dame football rivalry. The two schools, who have met every year but one since World War II, do not currently have a contract for the series beyond 2026. On Monday, Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated reported that the series appears to be in serious jeopardy.
According to Forde, "USC has expressed reluctance to enter into a long-term deal due to uncertainty about the future College Football Playoff format, and while assessing the demands of greater travel as a member of the Big Ten. USC has broached the idea of moving the game to a season-opening spot on the schedule, sources tell SI."
Forde later updated the story to include statements from both USC and Notre Dame officials.
"'We want the USC–Notre Dame rivalry to continue, which is why we offered an extension of our agreement,' USC associate athletic director Cody Worsham tells SI. 'It's a special game to our fans and our institution. We will continue to work with Notre Dame on scheduling future games.'"
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua added, "I think Southern Cal and Notre Dame should play every year for as long as college football is played, and SC knows that's how we feel."
While college football has changed a ton over the decades, the USC-Notre Dame rivalry is one of the few constants that has remained constant. Hopefully, the two schools will be able to come to an agreement, and one of the great rivalries in all of sports will not fall victim to the new era of college athletics.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Doris Burke Uses World War II Reference To Build Rivalry Between Rudy Gobert And Isaiah Hartenstein
Doris Burke's unexpected World War II reference during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals sparked a flurry of online reactions, ranging from amusement to outright backlash after she used the moment to dramatize a dunk by Rudy Gobert over Isaiah Hartenstein. In a playoff game loaded with international stars, Burke attempted to inject some historical flair into the rivalry between Gobert, a Frenchman, and Hartenstein, who holds German nationality. Advertisement 'And I don't know much about history, but I know the French and German don't like one another. And Rudy says, 'Bonjour, Mr. Hartenstein! Have a little bit of that.'' Her partner, Mike Breen, quickly interjected, chuckling, 'What are you trying to start here?' The line instantly went viral, triggering a fierce debate across NBA Twitter. While some found it to be lighthearted banter and a harmless bit of color commentary, others labeled it unnecessary and tasteless, accusing Burke of forcing history into basketball discourse. Some even called for ESPN to reconsider her position in the broadcast booth, dubbing her 'the worst commentator of all time.' Others, though, appreciated the attempt to add a storytelling layer to a matchup between two of Europe's premier big men. Advertisement Whether the joke landed or not, Burke wasn't entirely off base. France and Germany have a centuries-old history of rivalry, most notably marked by their roles in both World Wars, where they stood on opposing sides. Germany's occupation of France during World War II left a lasting national scar and remains a defining chapter in both countries' modern history. Though relations between the nations have since stabilized, that tension is often revived playfully in competitive arenas such as soccer and, increasingly, basketball. Gobert and Hartenstein, both physical rim protectors, have clashed throughout the series, battling for rebounds and interior dominance. Burke's line was a cheeky way to tie in the physicality and pride between two European bigs with real national stakes. While Hartenstein was born in Oregon, he was raised in Germany, holds dual citizenship, and has represented Germany internationally, making Burke's premise valid, at least geographically. Advertisement Still, the timing and historical reach were jarring for many viewers. The World War II reference came moments before a commercial break, seemingly pulled out of nowhere. Her tone was more comedic than serious, but for some fans, invoking such a serious topic during a tightly contested NBA game was simply off-key. The irony? Burke's line, meant as a throwaway, may have unintentionally ignited a mini-rivalry. Neither Gobert nor Hartenstein has addressed this, but the added layer of personal and historical pride could very well bleed into Game 5. If nothing else, it gave the series some extra narrative spice. While her delivery divided fans, Doris Burke has never been one to shy away from adding drama to the broadcast. Love it or hate it, her 'Bonjour, Mr. Hartenstein' call won't be forgotten anytime soon, and in that sense, maybe she did exactly what a good broadcaster should. Related: Anthony Edwards Explains Why Chet Holmgren Was The Game Changer For OKC In Game 4
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
FanDuel posts betting odds to reach CFP; MSU not as much of long shot as you may think
FanDuel posts betting odds to reach CFP; MSU not as much of long shot as you may think Michigan State's odds to reach the College Football Playoff this year aren't as long as you may think. FanDuel has recently released betting odds for teams to make the College Football Playoff this upcoming season. The Spartans are in the bottom half of the Big Ten in odds compared to the rest of the league, but the actual odds are higher than I personally expected. Michigan State opened at +1800 to reach the College Football Playoff next season. I couldn't dig up last year's preseason odds for Indiana to reach the College Football Playoff but I can promise you they were longer odds than the current ones posted for Michigan State this year. Among Big Ten teams, Michigan State ranked as No. 11 for best odds to reach the College Football Playoff. Washington was right ahead of the Spartans, but by a considerable margin at +980. Right behind Michigan State was Rutgers and UCLA at +2500 and Wisconsin at +3000. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how Michigan State could be this year's Indiana and these odds only raise my thinking behind that being a possibility. I'm still not signing up for that as a likely endgame for the Spartans this fall, but these odds are at least worth considering as a long shot bet if you're into that kind of thing. Check out each Big Ten team's odds of reaching the College Football Playoff this fall in the graphic below -- courtesy of The Big Ten Huddle: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
4-Star Transfer Decommits Just Three Days After Big Announcement
4-Star Transfer Decommits Just Three Days After Big Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Eric Musselman has been the head men's basketball coach at USC for just over a year, and he's already dealt with his fair share of challenges. Not everything is sunshine and roses in Southern California. Advertisement The 60-year-old coach, who previously led Nevada and Arkansas, went just 17-18 in his first season with the Trojans. It marked his second straight year missing the NCAA Tournament. As Musselman and his staff work to reshape the roster for year two in the Big Ten, they were hit with disappointing news on Monday. According to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports, "High Point transfer guard Kezza Giffa has decommitted from USC, he told @On3sports. This is a tough blow for USC. Giffa, a senior, was expected to bring much-needed scoring to the Trojans after averaging 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season at High Point. He earned First Team All-Big South honors for the second year in a row. Advertisement The 6-foot-2 guard from France only just committed to USC on May 29. A four-star transfer, Giffa has not yet revealed where he plans to go next. USC Trojans Head Coach Eric Musselman© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Giffa originally committed to the Trojans on May 29. The four-star transfer has yet to give an indication on what his next step will be. Despite the loss, Musselman still had a solid offseason in the portal. Five-star recruit Alijah Arenas is set to join the program, along with four-star guard Jerry Easter. The Trojans' first two transfer commitments were forward Jacob Cofie from Virginia and guard Amarion Dickerson from Robert Morris. Since then, the coaching staff added Sanford's Jaden Brownell, Youngstown State's Gabe Dynes, Utah's Eza Ausar, Maryland's Rodney Rice, Auburn's Chad Baker-Mazara and UNC-Asheville's Jordan Marsh. Advertisement Despite Giffa's departure, the Trojans remain aggressive in reshaping their lineup for a competitive Big Ten campaign. Related: 7-Foot College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Commitment Decision on Friday Related: Kansas' Bill Self Makes Staff Move After Disappointing Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
