The internet was buzzing on Monday as news broke that Notre Dame and USC are once again in discussions to renew their storied rivalry in the coming years. A flood of posts, articles, and podcasts emerged from fans and analysts eager to weigh in on the future of the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh.
Instead of the usual deep dive into multiple topics, here’s a collection of the most notable takes for you to sort through yourself. However, there is one argument frequently brought up by USC fans that deserves to be called out as nonsense: the claim that “Notre Dame needs USC more than USC needs Notre Dame.” To be clear, neither school actually needs the other. Using that logic completely misses the point of what a rivalry truly means. It’s baffling that anyone would think otherwise.
Dexter Williams (2) celebrates after scoring on a 52-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame defeated USC 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images” />
While both programs have moved forward with their own schedules, the historic matchup has a unique place in college football lore. The ongoing talks suggest that neither side is ready to let the tradition fade away, even if some of the rhetoric from fanbases gets heated.