USC-Notre Dame annual rivalry game in jeopardy after 2026
The Sporting Tribune's Arash Markazi offers an update on the future of the USC-Notre Dame annual rivalry game and why it might not continue after 2026.
Good morning and welcome to The Morning Column at The Sporting Tribune. It’s the first part of our ampm series, where you can read The Morning Column, Arash Markazi’s daily column, in the a.m., and then watch and listen to The Sporting Tribune Today in the p.m. on X. The show, which is hosted by Arash Markazi and Grant Mona, will hit on the top stories of the day and will also air on KIRN 670 AM in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and The Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii.
LOS ANGELES – Six thoughts for Tuesday:
1. I’m all for change when it comes to college sports. I love that athletes are getting paid now and some are already multi-millionaires before starting a single game. I’m all for the 12-team college football playoff and would be fine expanding it. I was even on board with the death of the old Pac-12, a conference that was a sinking ship and had lost its way after the glory days of the old Pac-10. Where I draw the line is trashing 100-year-old traditions like USC playing Notre Dame every year.
There have been multiple reports this week about this season’s USC-Notre Dame being the last in their current contract and how USC wants to move on from the annual rivalry game while Notre Dame wants a long terms extension. I talked to multiple USC officials this week and got some clarification on what’s happening:
- USC has offered a one-year extension for the Trojans and Irish to play at the Coliseum in 2026 while the two sides continue to work on a long-term deal. They are confident that game will be played as USC and Notre Dame celebrate the 100th anniversary of their first matchup in 1926, which also took place at the Coliseum.
- USC wants to continue to play Notre Dame beyond 2026 but would like to move the game to the start of the season where most teams play their big nonconference games. One USC official pointed to USC’s road game against Notre Dame this year on Oct. 17 being sandwiched between conference games against Michigan and Nebraska. The proposed game next season, much like in past years, would be played on the last Saturday in November after their conference schedule has already wrapped up and would be one week before the conference championship game.
My guess is the only way the annual USC-Notre Dame game survives beyond 2026 is if Notre Dame concedes to playing the game in early September as opposed to late October or November. The feeling I got from USC officials was that was going to be a non-starter for a program that has scheduled Missouri State and Georgia Southern to start this season and doesn’t plan on scheduling nonconference games after September moving forward.
2. Whenever people talk about Paul George being traded from the Thunder to the Clippers, the only name that is usually brought up is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It makes sense. He just won his first MVP at 26 and is a three-time All-NBA First Team player. But after the Thunder’s win over the Wolves on Monday, it was hard not to think of Jalen Williams, who the Thunder selected with one of the Clippers’ draft picks in the deal. Williams is already a All-Star and third-team All-NBA selection and scored a payoff-career-high 34 points to get the Thunder on the brink of the NBA Finals.
3. It was surreal to Shohei Ohtani back on the mound in New York, this time in a Dodgers uniform, as he faced hitters for the first time in nearly two years in a live batting practice at Citi Field. Ohtani isn’t expected to pitch for the Dodgers until the second half of the season but to see him throw 22 pitches over five plate appearances to three batters for the first time since his second elbow reconstruction surgery was a big moment for the Dodgers as they hope to have him back in the starting rotation in time for the postseason in October.
4. There’s a video of LeBron James dancing at his son’s high school graduation on TikTok and the reaction from his haters is both sad and hilarious. James suffered a MCL sprain during the Lakers’ last game of the playoffs on April 30. At the time, the feeling was he would likely be out 3-4 weeks if the Lakers had won, sidelining him for the rest of the first and second round. Here we are, 3-4 weeks later and haters are up in arms because he’s dancing at his son’s graduation party? So ridiculous.
5. Chris Taylor didn’t have to travel too far from home after the long-time Dodgers utility man was released on May 18. He signed with the Angels on Monday and started against the New York Yankees on his first day with team. Taylor, 34, went 0-for-3 but did make a sprinting catch in the ninth inning, showing both why the Dodgers released him and why he still has value for a team, looking for a regular centerfielder. While the Angels are the Dodgers’ Freeway Series rivals, there is no doubt a soft spot in the hearts of Dodgers fans for the Halos now after acquiring Taylor and Kenley Jansen.
6. While the Sparks are the best value for tickets in Los Angeles ($10 lower bowl tickets, $15 suite tickets for most home games), the Angels are the best value in Orange County and are in the running for best in all of sports. For Tuesday and Wednesday’s games against the New York Yankees, for example, you can get in the door at Angel Stadium for $8. Sure, you’re not home plate but the cheapest ticket to see the Yankees at Dodger Stadium this weekend is over $100 and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything for $8 with Dodger Dogs selling for $7.99 before taxes.