Week 8 of college football has a great slate of matchups. None bigger than the rivalry game between USC (5-1) and Notre Dame (4-2). There’s a lot at stake for Marcus Freeman, simply because after losing to Miami and Texas A&M, Notre Dame can’t afford another loss on its record. A three-loss team with its schedule will not make it to the playoffs. However, since the start of the season, this game has been in the news. Not for its 2025 edition, but for what the future has in store for the matchup.

The Trojans and the Irish have played almost every season since 1926. The World War II period halted the matchup, and we also didn’t see them go against each other in 2020. But there is uncertainty around whether we’ll see them play each other in the coming years. For now, the 2025 game is the last officially scheduled game between the two programs. They haven’t come to any agreement on how the matchup will be played in the future.

The major reluctance comes from USC, especially after their move to the Big 10. The program feels that having Notre Dame as one of its nonconference games might affect its playoff chances. During the B1G Media Days, Lincoln Riley called for a continuation but also relayed the contentions. Ahead of the Week 8 game, the Trojans’ head coach was again asked about the same. Speaking to the media about this historic clash, Lincoln Riley wants to concentrate on the game at hand.

“I don’t know how that’s going to play out. It will as it will, and you know, like I would refer back to my comments that I made at media day. I feel exactly the same way about it. I love it, I hope it continues.”

Riley further said that he hopes both sides reach an agreement, and the rivalry continues. “I hope I’m head coach at USC for a long time, and I hope every single year we’re playing this game,” the Trojans’ head coach further opined.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash, Notre Dame holds a 50-37-5 edge in the all-time series. But this record excludes the three vacated games—USC’s famous “Bush Push” win from 2005, and two Notre Dame victories in 2012 and 2013. The NCAA took away the Trojans’ victory after Reggie Bush was found receiving improper benefits. Notre Dame was also stripped of their wins because of academic misconduct by an athletic trainer.

Lincoln Riley looks back at USC Trojans’ iconic Bush Push

This Saturday’s Notre Dame-USC clash also marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic “Bush Push” game. Reminiscing about the historic finish, USC head coach Lincoln Riley shared his experience as a student assistant at Texas Tech.

With the Trojans trailing 31-28 and possessing the ball at the Fighting Irish 1-yard line. Here, running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Matt Leinart pulled off a miracle. As Notre Dame stonewalled Leinart, Bush came up with an ingenious push that was enough for the Trojans to steal the touchdown and seal a monumental victory.

Describing this moment, Riley expressed how he hopes to be part of something similar in his career. He expressed, “I just remember it being iconic, and yeah, I remember thinking, ‘Man, it’d be cool to be a part of that rivalry or rivalries like that in the future.'”