David Pollack Weighs in as Iconic College Football Rivalry Faces Uncertain Future
One of the reasons college football has gained popularity over the years is its historic rivalries. Whether it's Oklahoma vs. Texas, Ohio State vs. Michigan, USC vs. Notre Dame or Auburn vs. Alabama, fans eagerly gather around their televisions to watch these exciting games.
However, as the sport evolves, some iconic matchups are disappearing. For instance, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State no longer compete against each other after Oklahoma moved to the SEC. Similarly, Texas and Texas A&M took a break from their rivalry when the Aggies joined the SEC, but they renewed their matchup when Texas joined the conference before last season.
Another rivalry may be at risk of ending. According to the Los Angeles Times, the future of the USC vs. Notre Dame game is uncertain. Houston Mitchell reported that the contract between the Trojans and Fighting Irish is set to expire. USC officials have extended an offer to Notre Dame in hopes of continuing the historic series for at least one more season, through the fall of 2026.
Mitchell believes the future of this rivalry, beyond that point, largely depends on the format of the College Football Playoff, specifically the number of automatic qualifiers guaranteed to the Big Ten in future playoff fields. Until these questions are resolved, USC leaders agree that the best approach for their century-old rivalry with Notre Dame is to continue their arrangement on a year-by-year basis.
On the podcast "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the former "College GameDay" analyst responded to the possibility of that rivalry ending.
"This is what we continue to lose," Pollack said. "We continue to lose rivalries. We continue to lose things you grew up watching that you absolutely loved, that you want to see more of, because it doesn't make sense. How many rivalries have we lost along the way because of that?"
Pollack noted that losing these iconic rivalries is, unfortunately, a "cost of doing business" in college football's current era. He explained that those in charge prioritize financial gains over traditional rivalries.
He emphasized that the rivalry likely holds more significance for Notre Dame, as the team is not part of a conference and needs to schedule as many high-profile opponents as possible. Nonetheless, it's disappointing to lose this game.
The Fighting Irish hold a 50-37-5 advantage in their all-time series. Aside from the cancellation during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the last time the two teams did not play each other was in 1945, when they took a multi-year break due to World War II. They are scheduled to face off, possibly for the last time in the foreseeable future, on Oct. 18 in South Bend, Ind., at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Related: David Pollack Names Major College Football Rivalry That Should be Renewed
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