Clemson is replacing USC on Notre Dame’s schedule and rivalry roster

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 05, 2022: K. J. Henry #5 of the Clemson Tigers rushes against Blake Fisher #54 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on November 5, 2022 in South Bend, Indiana.

(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images Perhaps the worst part of this new age of college football is the death to rivalries across the country. The tragedies began with conference realignment 15 years ago, and the big move by Nebraska to the Big 10, and it continues because of what the college football playoff has become. Notre Dame isn’t completely innocent in all of this, but they have also been victimized by it as well.

Nothing could scream tragedy louder than USC running away from playing Notre Dame because — well they’re just plain cowards. The Greatest Intersectional Rivalry in sports was put in a trash can after the 2025 season, and it has many fans from both schools pretty angry and upset about it all. All college football playoff stuff beside, the loss of USC on the schedule just makes it less interesting.

With Southern Cal, there was a rival that you wanted to see buried 8 feet in the ground below; and regardless of records, rankings, and repercussions — it was a red circle game. After the news of USC broke, the news of Notre Dame replacing USC on the 2026 schedule with the BYU Cougars broke as well. While this was a nice replacement for 2026, it wasn’t a long term type of solution for the type of game USC was for the Irish.