Notre Dame and BYU have agreed to a home-and-home football series starting in September. This agreement fills a key slot in Notre Dame’s upcoming schedule and pauses their longstanding rivalry with USC for the foreseeable future.
The initial game is set to take place in Provo, Utah, with a return game planned in South Bend the following season. Both schools aim to finalize exact dates soon.
Impact on Notre Dame-USC Rivalry
Notre Dame’s annual matchups against USC have been a college football highlight since 1926. USC has raised concerns over game timing, wanting the matchup earlier in the season, aligning with other Power 5 nonconference games.
Traditionally, Notre Dame hosts USC in October, while the Los Angeles game closes the regular season. Both programs have expressed a commitment to preserving the rivalry and are working together to resume it in the future.
Recent Team Performances and Rankings
Notre Dame finished the season ranked 11th in the College Football Playoff standings, boasting 10 straight double-digit win games. BYU also played a strong season, reaching an 11-1 record and placing 12th nationally before losing in the Big 12 championship game to Texas Tech.
The two teams have faced each other nine times historically, with Notre Dame leading the series 7-2. Their most recent meeting was in 2022 at the Shamrock Series in Las Vegas.
Key Details of the Upcoming Series
- 2026 game at BYU in Provo, Utah
- 2027 game at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana
- Exact dates to be announced shortly
This new series shifts Notre Dame’s scheduling plans and highlights BYU’s rise as a competitive independent program. It also marks an important moment as Notre Dame temporarily sets aside their historic clashes with USC to explore new rivalries.
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