The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
USC-Notre Dame
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.
Stature & the series, 1926–2025
Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.
all-time
53–38–5
Notre Dame leads
streak
3
Notre Dame in a row
longest run
11
Notre Dame
biggest win
51
Notre Dame, 1966
first met
1926
96 meetings
biggest crowd
80,795
2015
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
1960s17–15
1970s36–59
1980s28–45
1990s57–37
2000s42–61
2010s43–49
2020s39–27
Best picks, either side
1972Walt Patulski Defensive EndRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1968Ron Yary Offensive TackleRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969O.J. Simpson Running BackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1977Ricky Bell Running BackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2003Carson Palmer QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969George Kunz Offensive TackleRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1970Mike McCoy Defensive TackleRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
Recent meetings
2025Notre Dame34–24
2024Notre Dame49–35
2023Notre Dame48–20
2022USC38–27
2021Notre Dame31–16
2019Notre Dame30–27
2018Notre Dame24–17
2017Notre Dame49–14
2016USC45–27
2015Notre Dame41–31
2014USC49–14
2013Notre Dame14–10
2012Notre Dame22–13
2011USC31–17