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ND will play BYU, not USC - chrisk - 12-22-2025

ND has replaced USC on its 2026 and 2027 schedules with BYU. Apparently, ND-Stanford is on, at least for 2026.

https://fbschedules.com/notre-dame-byu-schedule-home-and-home-football-series-for-2026-2027/

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - fullmetal - 12-22-2025

That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Goose - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?
I am going to guess USC. ND wants to improve its strength of schedule. Historically USC is generally ranked above BYU. That isn't true this year with BYU at 12 and USC at 16, but it seems improbable to me that ND expects that to be a trend. USC OTOH is probably sick and tired of getting beat up by ND, especially now that they are in the B1Gwhatever and get beat up by several other teams regularly :-). USC is 2-8 against ND in the last 10 years. ND wants a west-coast recruiting presence. USC doesn't much care about a mid-western recruiting presence. More reasons for USC to want out than ND.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Mick - 12-22-2025

They couldn't reach an agreement. Theyhave playedevery year since 1926, excluding the pandemic and WWII. Notre dame leads 51-37-5. 

It was mainly USC. Bevacqua (ND Dir Ath) was adamant about wanting it to continue.

Reasons why USC and Notre Dame didn't continue the rivalry 
1. Basically, USC wanted an easier schedule. USC wanted the game earlier in the season and at a neutral site. 
2. Travel concerns caused by the new Big10 alignment.
3. Notre Dame wanted a longer schedule. USC offered one year in 2026 because they were uncertain about future CFP formats.

Two fun facts: (1) USC has never played in the College Football Playoff since its founding in 2014.  (2) Per Chicago Trib, had Notre Dame decided to participate in a bowl game, their likely opponent would have been USC in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Instead, USC is playing unranked TCU in the Alamo  Bowl.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - 82lsju - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 12:15 PM)Goose Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?
I am going to guess USC. ND wants to improve its strength of schedule. Historically USC is generally ranked above BYU. That isn't true this year with BYU at 12 and USC at 16, but it seems improbable to me that ND expects that to be a trend. USC OTOH is probably sick and tired of getting beat up by ND, especially now that they are in the B1Gwhatever and get beat up by several other teams regularly :-). USC is 2-8 against ND in the last 10 years. ND wants a west-coast recruiting presence. USC doesn't much care about a mid-western recruiting presence. More reasons for USC to want out than ND.

USC is currently playing +/-3 games (depending on your exact definition of the midwest) Big Ten games every season so they have plenty of midwest presence without ND

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Giants - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?

SC is the guilty party.  The Irish were willing to change the traditional scheduling format (similar to the ND-Stanford scheduling plan) but not to the degree insisted upon by SC (early in the season every year).  Taking a peek at SC’s future schedule, it is evident they are dumbing down (Fresno St, Nevada, Louisiana with no P4 teams on the list).  

Quite frankly, the CFP committee bears much of the blame for schools dropping strong non-conference games. Until, the committee starts crediting teams for tough schedules, this problem will persist.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Maple Leaf - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 01:31 PM)Giants Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?

SC is the guilty party.  The Irish were willing to change the traditional scheduling format (similar to the ND-Stanford scheduling plan) but not to the degree insisted upon by SC (early in the season every year).  Taking a peek at SC’s future schedule, it is evident they are dumbing down (Fresno St, Nevada, Louisiana with no P4 teams on the list).  

Quite frankly, the CFP committee bears much of the blame for schools dropping strong non-conference games. Until, the committee starts crediting teams for tough schedules, this problem will persist.

I hope those schools beat usc, I hope ALL schools beat usc for what they did to the PAC 8, PAC 10 and PAC 12.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - HalloHaleakala - 12-22-2025

Good, far as I'm concerned. I've felt for some time now that Notre Dame should establish a rivalry with (a) school(s) that align more with it across the board: as an academic institution and as an athletic program that also holds high ethical/moral standards. 

Obviously, U[sic]SC has been found wanting in all of the above, so it's perfectly fine by me that this series is on (hopefully permanent) hiatus.

It's also satisfying that U[sic]SC will likely fade even more into irrelevancy as a result.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Goose - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 03:11 PM)Maple Leaf Wrote:  I hope those schools beat usc, I hope ALL schools beat usc for what they did to the PAC 8, PAC 10 and PAC 12.
While I totally agree with that sentiment, I hope all schools beat USC simply because they are USC. All by itself, that is sufficient reason.
(12-22-2025, 01:13 PM)82lsju Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 12:15 PM)Goose Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?
I am going to guess USC. ND wants to improve its strength of schedule. Historically USC is generally ranked above BYU. That isn't true this year with BYU at 12 and USC at 16, but it seems improbable to me that ND expects that to be a trend. USC OTOH is probably sick and tired of getting beat up by ND, especially now that they are in the B1Gwhatever and get beat up by several other teams regularly :-). USC is 2-8 against ND in the last 10 years. ND wants a west-coast recruiting presence. USC doesn't much care about a mid-western recruiting presence. More reasons for USC to want out than ND.

USC is currently playing +/-3 games (depending on your exact definition of the midwest) Big Ten games every season so they have plenty of midwest presence without ND
Indeed. Good point.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - Mick - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 03:11 PM)Maple Leaf Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 01:31 PM)Giants Wrote:  
(12-22-2025, 11:27 AM)fullmetal Wrote:  That's wild...was it ND or U$C who pulled the plug on that storied "earth-swallows-both-teams-whole" game?

SC is the guilty party.  The Irish were willing to change the traditional scheduling format (similar to the ND-Stanford scheduling plan) but not to the degree insisted upon by SC (early in the season every year).  Taking a peek at SC’s future schedule, it is evident they are dumbing down (Fresno St, Nevada, Louisiana with no P4 teams on the list).  

Quite frankly, the CFP committee bears much of the blame for schools dropping strong non-conference games. Until, the committee starts crediting teams for tough schedules, this problem will persist.

I hope those schools beat usc, I hope ALL schools beat usc for what they did to the PAC 8, PAC 10 and PAC 12.

I hope Stanford never plays them. Ever.

When my oldest was applying to colleges, I asked if he would consider USC. Full disclosure, I have two nieces and a nephew there. He replied, "I'd rather go to a junior college." I cajoled my youngest to tour USC. We were on campus for all of eleven minutes before he started to head back to the car. "Don't you want to see the public policy building?" an interest of his at the time. "I'm not going here," he said over his shoulder without  breaking stride.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - chrisk - 12-22-2025

It looks like Stanford will have to replace Fresno State on the 2028 schedule (with ND or another P4 school) to meet the ACC requirement of 10 P4 games. The 2026 game at SJS was recently rescheduled to 2031 for the same reason.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - jacket3ree - 12-22-2025

Point of Parliamentary Procedure to Mick's second fun fact, that doesn't change anything he is saying:  Notre Dame was set to play BYU in the Pop Tart's Bowl, not USC. When ND passed, GT was the substitute. Wouldn't have made much sense to have ND and USC play a second game in several weeks in a non-CFP game. Tech has its hands full with BYU. I don't have any animus toward Bear after he reneged on Stanford, but hopefully he sucks out loud next Saturday.

It is fun watching USC be less than stellar in the B1G after they tanked the Pac.

Honestly, I'd rather play Fresno State than Notre Dame for the umpteenth time. Too bad that won't happen.

RE: ND will play BYU, not USC - cctop - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 05:14 PM)Mick Wrote:  When my oldest was applying to colleges, I asked if he would consider USC. Full disclosure, I have two nieces and a nephew there. He replied, "I'd rather go to a junior college." I cajoled my youngest to tour USC. We were on campus for all of eleven minutes before he started to head back to the car. "Don't you want to see the public policy building?" an interest of his at the time. "I'm not going here," he said over his shoulder without  breaking stride.

I'm proud of your son!  My kid is applying to college now.  He says that USC and Northeastern (both schools that have gamed their admission rankings in recent years) are the hot schools among kids at his high school in SF. He was shocked how vehemently negative I and his mom (a UCLA grad) reacted to the idea of him going to USC.

On the other hand I do know of a kid who got accepted to Stanford and instead chose a full ride to USC. That would be a tough pill to swallow but I don't dislike USC enough to turn down $400k.