Notre Dame, BYU to meet next two seasons; USC off Irish slate

Notre Dame and BYU were the first two teams on the outside of the College Football Playoff this season, and the programs are beefing up their nonconference schedules for the next two seasons by playing one another.

Both schools announced the series Monday that will see the first game played in Provo, Utah next season and the latter in South Bend, Ind., in 2027.

Notre Dame finished 11th in the CFP rankings this season and BYU was No. 12. Miami, at No. 10, was the last at-large team to make the 12-team field.

"We are excited to announce this home-and-home series between BYU and Notre Dame for the 2026 and 2027 seasons," BYU athletic director Brian Santiago said in a news release. "We have tremendous respect for Notre Dame. ... These will be competitive football games, and will highlight coaches Kalani Sitake (BYU) and Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), two of the best leaders and coaches in college football."

The game in Provo completes Notre Dame's 2026 schedule, and knocks longtime rival Southern California off the schedule. Notre Dame and USC have played every season since 1946, except when the 2020 game was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The two teams were slated to play in 2026 in Los Angeles but that contest is now off and the series is indefinitely halted.

"USC and Notre Dame recognize how special our rivalry is to our fans, our teams, and college football, and our institutions will continue working towards bringing back The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh," Notre Dame and USC said in a joint statement. "The rivalry between our two schools is one of the best in all of sports, and we look forward to meeting again in the future."

According to reports, USC has expressed it no longer wants to host Notre Dame in late November and would prefer the game be played earlier in the season. Games in the series at Notre Dame typically are played in October.

Also, USC now plays in the Big Ten and makes multiple trips to the Midwest or East and is concerned about having another long trip every other season.

Notre Dame and BYU have played nine times with the Fighting Irish prevailing seven times. The most recent contest came in 2022 when Notre Dame beat the Cougars 28-20 in Las Vegas.

The teams have split two meetings in Provo, while the Irish are 5-1 against the Cougars in South Bend.

The addition of Notre Dame completes BYU's schedules for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Notre Dame (10-2) opted not to play in a bowl game after being passed over for the postseason. BYU (11-2) will face Georgia Tech (9-3) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 27.

--Field Level Media