The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

USC-Notre Dame

Notre Dame53-38-5USC
Power Program I#7 of 138–Power Program I#13 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 53-38-5. They've met 96 times since 1926. Notre Dame has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Notre Dame
Transfer portal
-19
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -30
What fans are saying · scheme identity
fans believe Notre Dame's defense has practiced against mobile quarterbacks
ND vs Rice - 28-10 Rice is a huge underdog so I expect them to use that spread triple-option to play keepaway most of the game.
Verified verbatim
USC
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-21
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -43
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe USC's frequent coaching changes hurt team stability
Sark and Kiffin faced uphill battles at USC due to NCAA sanctions and scholarship reductions. Both later learned under Nick Saban, gaining valuable experience from two legendary coaches.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1926–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeNotre DameUSCevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Notre Dame won, gray: USC won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Notre Dame was the more pass-heavy program — then USC took it over.

Notre Dame threw it more in 6 of 7 seasons, 2004–2010. Since 2011, USC has led 14 of 16. Real exceptions: 2004, 2013, 2014.

more passmore runNotre DameUSC2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262011USC 1.1 ptsUSC won 31-172004USC 2.5 ptsUSC won 41-102014Notre Dame 2.1 ptsUSC won 49-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Notre Dame once won 11 in a row. The biggest win was Notre Dame by 51 in 1966. The biggest crowd, 93,607, was in 2012.

The coaching duels

Ara Parseghian vs John McKay3-6-2
Frank Leahy vs Jeff Cravath4-1-1
Lou Holtz vs Larry Smith6-0
Elmer Layden vs Howard Jones2-2-1
Dan Devine vs John Robinson1-4
Charlie Weis vs Pete Carroll0-5

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
262-293
USC leads
1st-rounders
47-73
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Notre DameUSC
1960s17-15
1970s36-59
1980s28-45
1990s57-37
2000s42-61
2010s43-49
2020s39-27

Best picks, either side

1972Walt Patulski Defensive End · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2024Caleb Williams Quarterback · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1968Ron Yary Offensive Tackle · Minnesota VikingsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969O.J. Simpson Running Back · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1977Ricky Bell Running Back · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2003Carson Palmer Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969George Kunz Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1970Mike McCoy Defensive Tackle · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

USC1.10×its own average home crowd
Notre Dame1.09×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Notre Dame34-24
2024Notre Dame49-35
2023Notre Dame48-20USC — both ranked
2022USC38-27Notre Dame — both ranked
2021Notre Dame31-16
2019Notre Dame30-27
2018Notre Dame24-17
2017Notre Dame49-14USC — both ranked
2016USC45-27
2015Notre Dame41-31
2014USC49-14
2013Notre Dame14-10
2012Notre Dame22-13
2011USC31-17

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Notre Dame’s chance to win through that meeting. The loudest meeting for fans was 2023: loud. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2024. The bracket marks where.

2025Notre Dame 34-24Notre Dame won 34-24 vs USC. Chance to win started at 83%, low 59%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024Notre Dame 49-35Notre Dame won 49-35 at USC. Chance to win started at 70%, low 59%, high better than 99%.Busy
2023Notre Dame 48-20Notre Dame won 48-20 vs USC. Chance to win started at 56%, low 51%, high better than 99%.Loud
2022USC 38-27Notre Dame lost 27-38 at USC. Chance to win started at 36%, low 1%, high 36%.Busy
2021Notre Dame 31-16Notre Dame won 31-16 vs USC. Chance to win started at 70%, low 65%, high 99%.
2019Notre Dame 30-27Notre Dame won 30-27 vs USC. Chance to win started at 71%, low 55%, high 97%.
2018Notre Dame 24-17Notre Dame won 24-17 at USC. Chance to win started at 79%, low 45%, high 98%.
“My microwave oven has more personality than Jason Garrett”
A Notre Dame fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “The extra piint no good? Again?! That surely won't bite us for another week...”
    A Notre Dame fan

Meetings with their own story page

9 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.