USC vs NOTRE DAME, streaky and all-consuming since 1926…
Allen Wallace (TDB) — It’s Rockne vs Jones. Midwest vs West Coast. Private vs Private. South Bend vs L.A. Deep Blue vs Cardinal Red. McKay vs Parshegian.
The Bush Push, Green Jerseys, Heisman’s galore, NC’s in the balance, the huge wooden Trojan Horse in South Bend, sending off a glum, defeated Lou Holtz in his final game as ND’s coach 27-20 in OT at the
Coliseum, the 55-24 ’74 Comeback, and too many absolutely fantastic outcomes, heartbreaks, miracles, and heroes on both sides to recount over 95 total games. Each knows the other is undisputably their greatest rival.
In Marv Goux’s day, it was also always “Big Man vs Big Man“, to use his term. I still remember Goux showing up at the Sigma Chi house in the early ’70s to give us raucous pep talks before the heavily anticipated USC/ND game.
(Incidentally, I was surprisingly introduced to Goux’s daughter this weekend. She seemed joyfully inspired to know she had met yet another Trojan out there who remembered her dad as arguably the finest USC assistant coach in history. We gave each other the Fight On! sign before she graciously thanked me for my admiration of her father, McKay’s perennial right-hand man, who also had much to do with reeling in OJ Simpson for the Trojans).
As a center and LB for USC, Goux played against Notre Dame in 1952, ’54 and ’55.
“In the 1952 game, I intercepted a deflected pass and three guys hit me and nailed me to the ground,” Goux recalled. “I saw stars. I staggered off the field, but I didn’t want to show them that I was hurt. I carry my Notre Dame trophy with me everywhere I go.”
______________
College football: Ranking Top 25 head coaches since 2000, per The Athletic Nick Kosko (on3.com) — The Athletic ranked the top 25 college football head coaches since 2000 as we mark a quarter century in 2025. Some are still kicking in college, others have retired, and some are coaching in the NFL or even elsewhere. Keep in mind, some of these coaches’ career records do include games prior to 2000, but The Athletic’s rankings are based on their stops this century. The teams listed for each coach are only over the last 25 years. 1. Nick Saban: Alabama, LSU Career Record: 292-71-1 2. Urban Meyer: Ohio… Read more »
I look forward every year to the USC vs ND game, almost more than the SC/UCLA game. I’ve seen some great Trojan/Irish games in my lifetime with “The Comeback” at the top of my list. The format of the game with it being held in South Bend mid-October and in Los Angeles at the end of November has worked all these years. Why SC would say that the game has to be moved to the first 3 games of the season bewilders me. Notre Dame and Alabama will always play lower division schools each year to pad their record. Back… Read more »
Here’s an internet exchange about what’s going on: A — it’s all Notre Dame’s fault when they started playing lower division schools and in an easy ACC conference! They expect a beat-up and injured USC team to play a healthier Notre Dame team? The only way it could continue would be at the beginning of the season! B — Yes, and USC has said okay, except the game has to be moved to the first 3 games of the season. Balls in Notre Dame’s court. Either join a conference, to get the competition you need to qualify, or play us when… Read more »
Allen, for the record, I would be gravely disappointed if cfb’s greatest rivalry is eliminated. Been enjoying it since I was in elementary school. I know I’m stepping in a land mine here but….NCAA has been dismissing SOS for as long as I can remember. They talk, but cower ultimately. There is zero reward in having a difficult schedule and you can look back at history to confirm. The SEC would cry that they already have a tough conference ( not always for sure ) and ND is constantly defending their pathetic schedules and turns out, no harm to them. USC is… Read more »
I simply don’t think ND’s schedules are always so weak as others here do. And since they generally beat us more than we beat them, it’s not an angle that I choose to pursue. And to be honest, USC dominated the often poorly regarded Pac-12 under Pete Carroll when many of the Pac-12 teams were certainly nothing to write home about. As far as “scheduling ourselves out of post-season play”, I’d say it’s hard to make that argument with MO ST and GA SO kicking off the 2025 season. I don’t think USC should play three obvious cupcakes a year.… Read more »
I was in error in my post yesterday. USC-ND having started in ’26 not ’46 is the third oldest interconference rivalry but the oldest interstate/interconference (intersectional) rivalry. It was interrupted during WWII and 2020, so they played consecutively from ’46-’19. That’s the fourth longest nonconference streak. Missing 3 games in 98 years due to global catastrophes. It needs to stay but if playing it in September is the only way to keep it, I say move the date. Playing in November is not wise for USC. ND needs this game more than USC for SOS. ND will find it harder… Read more »
I noticed your error in not recognizing 1926 as the beginning of USC/ND, but we all make mistakes, sometimes when we least expect to. To me, the much bigger point isn’t the exact numbers. USC vs ND transcends that. There are plenty of fantastic rivalries, but there is only one USC/ND. There’s only one Leprechaun vs The Horse. As an older fan, it’s logical for me to think this, as I formed my USC link during the McKay years. One thing you and I do disagree on is your statement — “ND will find it harder and harder to find… Read more »
You have a good point. ND will not get a BIG or SEC team to play them in November. But they will be able to get ACC and Big12 teams. They need to boost their SOS as well as ND. ND may as well joint the ACC, half their games are from there.
Cancellation of the USC-Notre Dame game would constitute the ultimate betrayal.
I refuse to take this seriously. Maybe I’m just stuck with my head in the sand, but the USC/ND rivalry is so big, it boggles the mind just thinking it’s even under consideration.
I presume USC is angling big-time for a concession of some sort. Could LR be behind this for the sake of his future winning percentage at USC? I guess. But I sure hope not, and I can’t believe he’d want to tread here, especially after his last two failed USC seasons.
Jen’s too smart to let this happen. That’s where I stand, totally uninformed as I am.
I wonder how her recovery is going.