The annual rivalry game between Notre Dame and USC is officially back on the schedule. The two teams will face each other in the 2030 season, with the first game set for Week 1 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Background

The rivalry game was previously canceled due to disagreements over the schedule. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had expressed his desire to play the game at any point in the season, but the team ultimately balked at moving the game earlier in the season.

USC, on the other hand, needed to schedule the game earlier in the season to accommodate their Big Ten Conference schedule. The team’s athletic director, Jen Cohen, stated that playing the game early in the season allows them to schedule competitively with their Big Ten peers and takes into account the health and best interests of their student-athletes and program.

Renewed Agreement

The renewed agreement between Notre Dame and USC will see the two teams face each other in the first three weeks of the season for the next four years. The games will be played in Week 1 of the 2030 and 2031 seasons, and in the first three weeks of the 2032 and 2033 seasons.

The return of the rivalry game is a positive development for college football, providing fans with exciting non-conference matchups. As Nick Saban recently stated, playing 12 games against Power 4 teams allows for a more competitive and exciting season.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.