The history of the Notre Dame-USC football rivalry
The Notre Dame-USC football rivalry is the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. How did the Fighting Irish and Trojans end up being rivals?
Teams become rivals for many reasons. Most are regional with local bragging rights up for grabs. But some rivalries transcend those boundaries and take on a life of their own.
The best and most historic of them all belongs to Notre Dame and USC.
Universities in South Bend, Indiana and the heart of Los Angeles, California have no business being such heated rivals. Football just happens to connect them.
Why are USC and Notre Dame rivals?
The apocryphal version of how the rivalry started involves the wives of Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne and USC’s athletic director, Gywnn Wilson.
When the idea of a home-and-home series between the Irish and Trojans was proposed, Mrs. Wilson convinced Mrs. Rockne that a trip out west to enjoy Los Angeles weather every other year would be a nice way to escape winter weather. Mrs. Rockne, in turn, convinced her husband to schedule the series.
Of course, the more realistic explanation is that there was money in it for Notre Dame and prestige for USC.
When did the USC-Notre Dame rivalry begin?
The Fighting Irish and Trojans first met in 1926 on Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. The visitors prevailed by the narrow margin of 13-12.
USC got their first win of the series in the third meeting in 1928.
Who won the last USC-Notre Dame game?
For the first time since World War II, Notre Dame and USC didn’t play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last time they met was in South Ben in 2019. The Irish held off the Trojans for a 30-27 victory.
What is the USC-Notre Dame rivalry trophy?
The rivalry trophy is known as the Jeweled Shillelagh, which is an Irish club covered in emeralds and rubies representing the winner of each matchup. It has been in use since 1952. When the first version ran out of space for new medallions to be added, another was commissioned and that one now trades hands each year.
Notre Dame-USC rivalry all-time series record
The Fighting Irish have the edge in the all-time series record. They lead 49-37-5.
USC-Notre Dame rivalry longest win streak
Notre Dame won 11 straight games in the series from 1983 to 1993. That streak extends to 13 games unbeaten because of a tie in 1994. The Trojans broke the streak in Los Angeles in 1996.
USC’s longest win streak ran from 2002 to 2009 with eight straight wins.
The Irish currently have a three-game winning streak.
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