Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua confident USC rivalry will continue beyond 2025

On the eve of the last contracted meeting in the storied, 99-year-old Notre Dame-USC football rivalry, ND athletic director Pete Bevacqua on Friday painted a scenario in which the two schools would find a way to perpetuate it.

Just perhaps not in its typical rhythm of a mid-October clash in South Bend, Ind., alternating with a Thanksgiving weekend matchup in Los Angeles. With interruptions only for World Wars and worldwide pandemics.

“I can’t speak for USC,” Bevacqua said on the Dan Patrick Show Friday, “but in the conversations we’ve had, I think both schools, both administrations are committed to keeping this series alive. We’ve had a lot of positive conversations with USC.

“They’re continuing, literally, around the clock. My hope — and I think USC shares this, and I know they share it — we want to keep this series going. It’s so special.”

No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2) hosts the 20th-ranked Trojans (5-1) Saturday night at 7:30 EDT on NBC/Peacock.

“I’ll be the first to admit it’s great for Notre Dame,” Bevacqua continued. “I think it’s great for USC. And, maybe most importantly, I think it’s great for college football. This is one of those rivalries that defined college football, defined the sport, the greatest intersectional rivalry that there is.

“And I think the public deserves it. I think the college fans deserve it.”

Former Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and USC counterpart Howard Jones started the series in 1926. They’ve played every year since, except for three of the World War II years (1943, 1944, 1945) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).

Bevacqua then went on to continue to list the reasons — for both sides — for the rivalry to live on. To which Dan Patrick posed: OK, so why are we at this point where we have to negotiate around the clock to keep this going if everybody understands the beauty of this rivalry, the importance of this rivalry?

USC’s shift from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 season is a major complicating factor. That, along with the 18-team conference’s commitment to play nine league games annually.

“When you look at our schedule into the future — and we’re talking about moments in the calendar month that make sense for us and for USC — I think there’s no secret that USC would like to play our game earlier in the season,” Bevacqua said. “So, I’m working hand in hand with somebody who’s so important to our program.

[ND deputy athletics director/football] Ron Powlus is a name everybody knows. And Ron is kind of mapping out what our future looks like in 2026, ‘27, well into the ‘30s, and where could we position this game so it’s a win-win for us when we go out there and when USC comes here and visits?

“I’m hopeful. I’m optimistic. Nothing is finalized, but I’m optimistic that we’ll get something done.”