USC vs Notre Dame Rivalry on Hold | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 30, 2026 · 1m

The 2026 college football season is set to lose one of its most iconic matchups: USC vs. Notre Dame. After years of annual clashes, the two powerhouses are reportedly canceling their game due to a standoff over scheduling — USC wants Week Zero, Notre Dame prefers its traditional spot. USC’s Lincoln Riley claims Notre Dame backed out of earlier promises of flexibility, while Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman’s initial openness now appears contradictory. With expanded playoffs and conference realignments shrinking the number of high-stakes non-conference games, both teams may be weighing risk: Notre…