Pete Bevacqua, the athletic director of Notre Dame, is determined to ensure the continuation of the storied football rivalry with USC. During a 45-minute discussion with select members of the Notre Dame sports media, Bevacqua addressed the future of the yearly matchup that began in 1926.
“I’ve said it. [Notre Dame head football coach] Marcus [Freeman] has said it. And we make no secret about it. We want to play USC every year. As I’ve said in the past, I just think that would be a horrible thing if we don’t. I think it would be bad for us. I think it would be bad for college football. And USC knows that,” Bevacqua stated.
The upcoming game on October 18 at Notre Dame Stadium marks the final contest of the current contract with USC. Despite a rich history where Notre Dame leads with 52 wins against 38 losses and five ties, concerns have emerged regarding the future of the series. USC head coach Lincoln Riley and school officials have shown reluctance for a long-term agreement beyond a potential 2026 match in Los Angeles.
“We’re going back, we’re having conversations to try to put something together. You have to ask them specifically, but we are 100 percent committed. A HUNDRED percent committed to doing everything we can to keep that series going,” Bevacqua continued.
He emphasized the significance of this rivalry, stating, “Whether it’s the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, the end of the year, we want to keep that going. Whether it’s working in a neutral site every once in a while, we want to keep that series going. I think that’s one of the great series, not just in college football, but in all of sports.”
Notre Dame is set to open the 2025 season on August 31 against Miami and will commence training camp for the upcoming season on Thursday. Bevacqua’s conversation also touched on various subjects, including the future of the College Football Playoff format, the performance of men’s and women’s basketball, and funding for Olympic sports.
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